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!!
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.
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.