Name: Koyasan Shukubo Soujiin
Address: 143 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Koya, 648-0211, JP

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jul 2026

Randy

The whole experience was one of the very best we had on our 3 week tour of Japan. The welcome was great, and the meals were delicious!!!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Kinga

Our stay at Souji-in Shukubo in Koyasan was truly an experience beyond words. From the moment we drove our rental car into the mountains, we knew this place was something special. The drive itself was breathtaking, with incredible mountain views and forests covered in beautiful moss. It felt like entering another world.
The temple stay was unforgettable. The traditional dinner was absolutely delicious and a wonderful cultural experience. In the evening, we joined the night tour of Okunoin Cemetery, and it was one of the most magical experiences of our entire trip to Japan. Walking through the ancient cedar trees, surrounded by thousands of lanterns, temples, and centuries of history, was something we will never forget.
The next morning, we had the opportunity to meditate and watch the monks perform their morning prayers. It was peaceful, inspiring, and deeply moving. Breakfast was another wonderful traditional meal that completed the experience perfectly.
To make our stay even more memorable, we had an unexpected flat tire when we returned to our rental car that morning. We were in the middle of the mountains, and it was a stressful situation. The staff at Souji-in immediately stepped in to help. They kindly let us use their phone to call roadside assistance, helped us communicate, and made sure we were taken care of. Their kindness, patience, and willingness to help saved us so much time and stress. We are incredibly grateful for their hospitality.This place is truly magical

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

15 Jun 2026

Kenneth

Just know that the futons are only about 10cm deep so not super comfy if used to sleeping on a bed. Room was clean but the carpet on the hallway to the bathroom was really stained.
The staff was super kind. Convenient to walk around the little town and the mausoleum.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2026

Fabio

Such a special experience!! 10/10 would recommend to anybody

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2026

Emiliia

Staying at Sojiin was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and authentic, and the traditional dinner was absolutely delicious. This was one of the most memorable parts of our trip to Japan.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2026

Wayne

So worth the effort to get to Koyasan to experience such a tranquil stay in beautiful surroundings. The staff make you feel special indeed and the dining experience is one to remember.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Mar 2026

Andrew

Staff was very friendly they had amazing dinner, breakfast, and offered tea and such during check in. Let us play the instruments as well

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2025

heather

Incredible experience to stay at a shrine and be served excellent vegan food and join in prayers and meditation the following mornjng

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Sep 2025

zhen

Dinning is more than expected

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Aug 2025

Alexandra

Cannot say enough good things about this monastery. The food was top notch. So healthy and delicious. Our best meals in Japan (vegan food that will amaze you- and we are not even vegan)! The staff is so kind and welcoming. Do not miss the chanting ceremony in the morning. Loved the room with its traditional Japanese experience and garden view. Perfect location across the street from the temple complex. Don’t miss walking around it at night. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2025

Gabriela

Mixes comfort with Japanese style. The staff very caring and the morning ceremony fill Buddhist gratuito al morning chanting.
The food looks like work of art, though the tasting is complex and, although we are vegetarian, it was something very different.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

31 May 2025

Prasad

Very expensive for a night stay and meager services/food offered

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2025

Rachel

Two wonderful nights at Soujiin, Koyasan. Beautiful property in centre of town with an authentic traditional Japanese experience. Meals are traditional Japanese, & are all vegetarian. Highly recommended!!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2025

Philip

Our stay at Sojiin was truly the most wonderful experience. We stayed for two nights with our 10-year-old son, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of life in a Buddhist temple—and it exceeded our expectations.

We attended the morning prayer ceremony at 6am, which was a peaceful and moving way to start the day. In the afternoons, we joined a meditation session led by Patrick, and also took part in his insightful evening walk around the main temple complex.

Patrick was outstanding—warm, humorous, and thought-provoking. He encouraged us to reflect deeply on aspects of our own lives, and made the experience accessible and engaging for all ages. Our son enjoyed it so much he insisted on attending a second session.

The Buddhist vegan cuisine was superb—beautifully prepared, nourishing, and surprisingly varied. Each meal felt like an extension of the temple’s peaceful philosophy.

The entire sacred area of Koyasan is fascinating, rich in history and spiritual meaning. We left feeling inspired, reflective, and incredibly grateful for our time at Sojiin.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2025

Mark

This property is a monastery and has traditional Japanese style rooms. The futons were quite comfortable. Our room had a toilet and sink, but no shower or bath. There is an Onsen, however we did not use it. The meals were very good. It was a great experience overall. They do have a 9pm curfew. Koya is very quiet at night. There is a Family Mart in town, close to the hotel.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2025

Verified traveler

Extraordinary place!

Peaceful, super comfortable, and one of the best meals I’ve ever had!

Partner

4/10

Poor

03 Mar 2025

Guillermo

I would say this stay came off as a tourist trap. The monks were also not very nice. We were told to leave early from the morning ceremony because it had become “Japanese only”… paid a lot of money to be told you had to leave. There was no translator or someone to inform us about the ceremony like we had been told.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Mar 2025

Daniel

Excellent stay :)

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2025

Trevor

Amazing service, best vegan food I’ve ever had, very flavourful. Definitely a unique experience I’d recommend staying in a temple lodging like this at least once.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jan 2025

Subrato

First time staying in a Skukubo in Japan. The traditional Japanese ryokan style of the Sojin was great. Including tatami matts and sliding doors. The staff and monk service was very accomodating. They provided extra water when I asked for it, and made my bed while I was having dinner.

Expecially the dining experience of the Buddhist monks cooking and serving their meals of Shojin Ryori. These were the best meals I have ever had!

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

06 Jan 2025

Daniel

Everything was great

10/10

Exceptional

07 Nov 2024

Leilani

The area around the property is so beautiful! I loved waking up in the morning & seeing the forest outside. My room was very clean and the front desk service very friendly. I really enjoyed the dinner & breakfast service (everything tasted amazing!~) and the morning meditation ceremony was memorable. Everyone at the temple are so kind and helpful.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2024

Satah

I really enjoyed the morning ceremony and opportunity to learn more of the buddhist culture.
Make sure to arrive on time for meals.
Beautiful location and accommodation.

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2024

Julia

Wonderful traditional stay

This was a wonderful traditional ryokan temple stay. The food was excellent. The onsen was tranquil. The room was spacious and futons very comfortable. The english speaking gentleman (who worked w the temple) was knowledgeable, passionate and eager to answer questions.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2024

Amelia

Really nice staff who explain the culture and history of Koyasan really well! I recommend booking with breakfast and dinner included as the food is amazing and unique and you won't find it anywhere else in Japan!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Dec 2023

Ian

Beautiful place to stay in Kōyasan, the food is very good and the monks and staff are so kind and attentive. I recommend staying here for an authentic Buddhist temple experience. And don’t miss the morning prayer.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2023

Bob

Sayaka San was wonderful, friendly, attentive and professional. She became our Japanese grand daughter.😏😆

10/10

Exceptional

21 Mar 2023

Lorene

food was excellent - like a gourmet kaiseki restaurant. great experience and beautiful surroundings. everything was top rate.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2022

Ken

A wonderful experience. This is a Buddhist temple offering a 'luxury' retreat complete with a gourmet style vegetarian dinner and breakfast.
If you have any interest in Buddhism this will for you. Lot's of great places to explore by foot. Went in December and the snow turned the place into a beautiful landscape.
The town itself can be a little touristy but so is the Vatican!
Highly recommended - but be respectful of the religious context of this location.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

A unique and cultural experience

A unique and cultural experience in a beautiful setting. The monks were very welcoming and accommodating and the Onsen was perfect to relax in at the end of the day. The morning prayers were well worth getting up for and the Buddhist dinner and breakfast was a real experience. We would recommend staying here whilst visiting Koyasan.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2020

Xi

Great temple, great experience!

Very comfortable temple to live in. Bright and clean room with a Japanese style garden in balcony, and having the view of the temple’s main garden. Public bath facility is easy to access and very clean. Dinner and breakfast are extremely delicious and beautiful. Monks here are friendly and service is efficient. Over all it is a great experience and definitely worth to visit again! If you want to spend one night in Koya Mountain, I personally strongly recommend this temple.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

03 Nov 2019

AK

In general, it was an interesting experience and a good stay. However, western travellers should be aware of specificities is temple lodging. It is a good ryokan but service is provided by monks. Monks are not in hospitality business and are not trained to be hostesses. Thus, you would feel that they do not provide service but are fitting you in their schedule. Even though most lodgers are westerners, practically nobody speak English. If you do not use your towel in the morning, it will be taken while you are having breakfast, and so on.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2019

Marissa

Soujiin is beautiful and everything about our stay was lovely. The food was immaculate, the service was interesting, we wish we had stayed longer! We enjoyed the garden view room with en-suite, which was the perfect indulgence. Highly recommend! We stayed at another place down the road as well, and it didn’t even hold a candle to Soujiin

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

The facilities are nice but the hospitality is lacking

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jun 2019

Valerie

Very central location and nice temple. However quite pricy for what you get.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Peace in Koyasan

Exquisite temple lodging, perfect for a retreat. You will experience tatami mat sleeping, fabulous (vegan) shojin ryori meals, + morning Buddhist meditation/prayers. Very quiet, most everyone is \"lights out\" by 9 PM. The monks are very gracious; be aware they speak little to no English. A much needed antidote to the stresses of modern urban life.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Nov 2017

Verified traveler

We loved our stay at Sojiin. This monastery is in the perfect location in Koyasan, very close to Kongobu-ji and the Garan, both must-see sights. The food at Sojiin was excellent and we went to the early prayers, as did most guests. Make sure you wear your coat to the early service - the temple gets bet cold even though there is a heater.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Nov 2017

Paul

Spiritual Place

Fantastic experience. Stayed in the temple complex with Buddhist monks, ate their vegetarian kaiseki cuisine (breakfast and dinner), attended their 6am ceremony. Room was traditional japense style with tatami mat floors overlooking a well kept and beautiful garden. Slept on traditional Japanese futon laid on floor. Great hospitality, and very welcoming to westerners.

Partner

4/10

Poor

25 Oct 2017

Verified traveler

I would stay no more than one night, overall it is too expensive for what you get.

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2017

Caitlyn

Sojiin - A great mountain escape

Koyasan is a beautiful, relaxing place and Sojiin was a great place to stay, experiencing a Buddhist temple and a more tradition Japanese room. The accommodation has easy access to all the tourist sites at Koyasan. The vegetarian food was excellent. We really enjoyed seeing the early morning (6am) Buddhist ceremony. The whole area was not as busy as other parts in Japan and we loved this quiet mountain escape.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2017

Verified traveler

Amazing stay! Such a interesting place to stay, with great service and excellent food.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2017

kev

Great temple in koyasan

Great temple inn at koyasan. Close proximity to everything. I would definitely come back.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Dec 2016

Vienna

The best experience of our Kansai trip! Will definitely visit Sojiin again!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2016

Oussama

Great place to experience Japanese culture

Beautiful place with large and comfortable Japanese style rooms. The service was impeccable and vegetarian food delicious. Great experience!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Sep 2016

Verified traveler

Night at a Temple

The 'staff' (monks) were excellent, from start to finish, and really added to the experience. They were attentive, warm, and friendly. The room had a typical ryokan layout and was comfortable. The (vegan) food was excellently presented, plentiful, and tasted good in the main. My only gripe is the beanbag style pillows which were pretty solid and tough to sleep on. As it was so warm I rolled up the duvet and used that as a pillow instead which meant I slept well. The opportunity to attend morning prayers was a great extra and well worth doing.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2026

MARIKO

とっても素敵な宿坊体験でした😊

Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2026

Søren

Det var et super fint sted. Fed oplevelse

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Jun 2026

Arturo

Bella struttura e cena tipica giapponese. Peccato per la pioggia che non ha dato la possibilità di visitare le attrazioni nelle vicinanze

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

Virginie

Une vraie parenthèse magique ! Nous avons passé un excellent séjour à Sojiin. L’emplacement est parfait. La chambre magnifique, l’accueil très chaleureux et le repas exceptionnel. Nous serions bien restés plus longtemps !

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 May 2026

Steven

非常棒