The Shokubo is a unique experience! We all enjoyed our stay. The rooms are not large but clean, great sleep on futons. The monks and the staffs were all kind and very welcoming. Though we have booked rooms from two booking sites, they kindly arranged all of our 4 rooms in the same quarter, next to each other and we felt very private. Thank you so much. The Shojin Ryori vegetarian dinner and the breakfast were superb! They were perfectly crafted in a special traditional manner and all were delicious, served in a calm and cozy temple dining room. One of us joined the morning prayers and got to meet the abbott who also shared the history of Soji-in. They had an English interpreter for foreigners joining the session. The shared bathrooms were nice, clean and quiet at night, with facilities similar to a basic Japanese onsens, just that the water is not the natural mineral water. The location is very nice, quiet yet almost at the Center of the town in-between Kongobuji temple and Danjo Garan. In all, a lovely and special temple lodging we all very much enjoyed.

We booked rooms from this site and also the other as we are a larger group and required many rooms. The explaination on booking.com was very clear that there is a private toilet in the room but the bathroom needs to be shared. But the other site offered another type of room signifying a private bathroom, more expensive, and was not clear on the sharing bath. We expected an in-room bathroom as with a bath & toilet also with the higher priced rooms in the other website, but no, the same rooms with different names. However, their shared bath rooms were nice, onsen- like, quiet and near all our rooms. The only bit inconvenience was they only open for use only pm, around until 10 pm and close in the morning.

This is not a hotel, but a temple where we were guests, not customers. So a usual rating would not be the correct thing to do, as it is up to us to adjust to what the place offers. Do not book it if you are not on board with the prerequisites the temple sets. With that being said, we were surprised by the level of comfort that was offered! We were greeted by English-speaking staff and welcomed with soup and cookies before being led to our room. We stayed in a family room, that was announced to be without a bathroom- but it surprisingly had a private toilet and a large washing area. All amenities were offered- a Yukata robe, slippers, toiletries and toothbrushes. The room was huge and the futon beds were comfortable. We used the public bath, which was wonderfully hot and relaxing. The dinner and breakfast were excellent. It was possible to buy soft drinks and alcoholic drinks for dinner. The location of the temple in Koyasan could not be better, the most important sights are within a short walk. It is such a beautiful place, with a beautiful stone garden. I highly recommend to attend the morning ceremony.

The rooms are thin-walled, so make sure to be quiet after 22:00 as the house rules suggest, to not disturb other guests.

Exceptional experience - we've thoroughly prepared for the trip and knew what to expect from temple lodging, being ready to manage our expectations, however it wasn't necessary as the accommodation provided excellent service! Starting from an amazing michelin-level dinner, relaxing experience in a well-maintained and completely empty (at 20:00) onsen, cozy and warm room equipped with toiletries, and finishing with a morning prayer where an english-speaking (!) monk (sorry, completely forgot the name, but i believe it was Patrick?) provided translation for a conversation with the head monk. Cherry on top - unlike all other temples, in Sojiin they didn't remove our futons during breakfast, so we had plenty of time to nap before check-out. It just feels like they have taken into account all the feedback provided by the guests and responded to their needs!

What an amazing experience! The shrine is just beautiful. The room was very clean, large and has everything needed, including a small Japanese garden. The dinner and breakfast surprised us with the number of foods and the variety of tastes. We joined the morning ceremony that was such a unique experience. The shrine also has a big and beautiful Japanese garden that is very fun for a morning walk.

When we stayed there the shrine had some construction works, so the entrance was not as seen in the pictures but it absolutely had no influence on our great experience.

Everything was lovely. It was a very peaceful way for us to finish our trip to Japan. I loved to baths, it was excellent. Recommend everyone walk around the rear landscaped gardens.

We went to morning prayers ( 6am ), then breakfast. By the time we got back to the room ( about 8 am ) it had been packed up. Bedding was gone!! and we wanted to have a little nap before checking out. So we dragged some bedding out of the cupboard... so a message to the monks, we visitors sometimes like a little more napping time. Sometimes our body clocks in a different time zone!

Staying in a working temple is a wonderful experience that we will always cherish. The room was comfortable, the surrounds were beautiful. The meals were prepared and presented in a way that reflects thoughtful and creative use of vegetarian principles - we were able to savour this wonderful experience also as truly special. From Sojiin, we were also able to take in the surrounds of Koyasan. We loved the quiet and serene pilgrim trail.

Everything was in-keeping with a unique accommodation experience. We were ready to accept and respect the differences that come outside of hotel accommodation.

Sojiin temple was beautiful. I had a lovely room with a garden view. The room was clean, quiet, and spacious. It included a private toilet and sink. The bath was a shared, gender-separated onsen-style facility. Meals were served in the guest dining area. Dinner was fabulous, with attentive service and delicious, beautifully presented shojin ryori. Breakfast was also wonderful. While you are having dinner, staff will come into your room and set up the futon. (You sleep on the floor, Japanese style.) The location of the temple was good, allowing me to attend the Okunoin night tour. I informed staff I would attend the night tour and they had dinner ready at 5:30pm for me so that I could leave right after eating. The meeting place for the night tour was in front of Ekoin temple, which is a 15 minute walk from Sojiin. After the night tour, I was able to make it back to the Sojiin before the 9:00 pm curfew. The next morning I also attended the morning service at Sojiin, right before breakfast. Staff were friendly and provided excellent service. It was a very nice, memorable stay.

I would've liked to have a small towel in my room to wipe my hands after I washed them in the sink.

Vegetarian dinner and breakfast both very filling, great variety and delicious, served in the dining area with name placements. Helps to ensure any allergies are not mixed up. Noting the food is not what the monks eat - there is alcohol you can order extra and is quite extravagant food. The room was warm and clean with tatami mats. Yukatas and slippers provided. Own toilet but the bath is a communal public bath (separated into genders) and showers which we didn't realise, but didn't mind. The staff set up futons while at dinner to sleep at night and more space in the room prior. Close to other temples and attractions in Koyasan. Morning meditation provides chairs so no kneeling required and there is some information about the amalgamation of different religions in Koyasan after. As with other temple stays, it is quite pricey, but worth a night - would say one night is enough though.

Just bear in mind curfew is 9pm where the outer temple doors are closed.

Souji-in is placed in the mountain village within the main area of Koyasan that has a rich history rooted in Buddhism, which is centuries old. 117 temples are located in the village of Koyasan with around 900 residents. Koyasan is very walkable, and from the edge of Okunoin cemetery to the main temples located on the other end it takes about 30-40 minutes of walking. We spent our time walking around seeing the many temples that are stationed there. Our stay in Souji was wonderful. We had a spacious room with two sleeping areas. The rooms don't have many chairs as one sits on the tatami mats with back rests or pillows. You also sleep on Japanese futon on the mats that are set out and put away each night and day by the monks. Although our group was only 4 people we could have fit many more in our area. Heaters (and presumably AC) are in the rooms (we were there in early spring), but once you leave the room, including in most of the temple areas there isn't climate controlled. A traditional vegan Buddhist dinner and breakfast was included with the stay. I was worried that the meal wouldn't be filling, but we were very satisfied after both meals as they include many vegetable proteins, mostly bean based (eg soy) proteins. I personally felt that the meals provided were some of the best that we ate in Japan and I felt that many five star restaurants couldn't do better. We attended the morning prayers, which very enlightening. Be aware to dress for outside weather and there is limited climate control in the prayer area. An English speaking monk spoke to us after the service to answer questions. The head priest of the temple kindly signed our goshuincho and demonstrated his excellent calligraphy skills. The price is higher per night than most of our other lodging during our stay in Japan, but given the historic nature of the Souji-in, the excellent food and location within Koyasan village we found that this was a high value stay and worth the cost.

The vegetarian food was fantastic. The temple was beautiful, the 6am ceremony was quite an experience for the mind, the heart and the senses. The whole building is looking great. There were also Japanese guests, not just foreigners, which gave a local touch to our stay. We came out with a refreshed and quiet mind, wanting to study more the principles of shingon Buddhism.

Would have loved to be able to understand more the talk of the monk during the ceremony at 6am, which he gave in Japanese to the Japanese guests. We got the essence of the talk translated but we would have loved to hear more. I guess that is the price to pay for having an authentic Buddhist ceremony that is not a show for foreigners.