Temple Hotel Daitaiji

About the shukubo

Jokosan Daitaiji (Rinzai sect, Myoshinji school). 775 Shimowada, Nachi-Katsuura Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture.

This Zen temple, founded over 1200 years ago, stands along the path of the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo. It is said to have originated when Dengyo Daishi Saicho carved a Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru) from a willow tree to seal a giant serpent that was tormenting the local people. Today, it is known as one of the leading Yakushi sacred sites in the Nanki region. It began as a Tendai sect temple and was converted to the Rinzai sect during the Edo period when Kishu became one of the Tokugawa Gosanke (three branch families of the Tokugawa clan).Despite being a Zen temple, it houses Buddhist statues from the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods.is rare nationwide, with a 400-year-old giant chinquapin tree greeting visitors to the temple grounds.

The shukubo (temple lodging) opened in February 2020. In addition to Zen temple experiences like zazen, sutra copying, and morning rice porridge, we offer unique ways to spend your time here, such as Zen sauna by the river and camping.Pet-friendly accommodationis also a feature of Daitaiji.

Three Charms

• A Temple Weaving 1200 Years of History— Historically valuable Buddhist statues and a 400-year-old giant chinquapin tree welcome you.
• Zazen Experience Amidst Forest Sounds— Experience authentic zazen at a Zen temple. Calm your mind and gain insights; feel the true essence of Zen.
• Experience the World Heritage Kumano Kodo— Located along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. Why not walk the path and trace the thoughts of people from ancient times?

Chief Priest's Message

Jukai Nishiyama, Chief Priest of Daitaiji

Temples were once an integral part of people's lives. Children played freely, and adults would consult the priest with any troubles. I wanted to lower the threshold, which had somehow become high, and make temples more familiar to everyone. That's why I started the shukubo.

In Zen, we aim to view things with free ideas, without fixed notions. I hope you all will also enjoy the space and atmosphere of the temple in your own free way. You might experience zazen or a Zen temple breakfast. You might quietly put your hands together in front of a beautiful Buddhist statue. Or perhaps enjoy the profound sound of the bell. I promise you a wonderful time where your body and mind will be purified.

— Jukai Nishiyama, Chief Priest of Daitaiji

Temple Grounds Map

In addition to the shukubo, the temple grounds include acampsite and RV park, and aZen saunaby the river. The shared kitchen and tables are also freely available for use.

Rooms & Rates

Photos	Room	Capacity	Size/Features
	Guest Hall	Capacity: 8 people	37 tatami mats / 67㎡ (four rooms). Can be partitioned and locked with fusuma sliding doors.
	Annex	Capacity: 2 people	9 tatami mats / 16㎡. Next to the main hall, with a private toilet.

You can choose from two types of rooms depending on the number of guests and your purpose. There is also a spacious common area, and you can freely use the kitchen and tables.Pets are welcome to stay with you at the shukubo (temple lodging) and campsite.(Please use a cage inside the room. Cages are also available for rent).

Prices vary depending on the date and number of guests. For availability and rates, please inquire via theinquiry form.

Guest Hall

A spacious Japanese-style room of 37 tatami mats / 67㎡ (four rooms), with a capacity of 8 people. It can be partitioned into two rooms and locked with fusuma sliding doors. Toilets are shared (2 locations), and there is a private shower room next to the guest hall.

Annex

An independent building next to the main hall, with a 9 tatami mat / 16㎡ Japanese-style room. Capacity for 2 people, with a private toilet. For bathing, please use the shared bathroom with a bathtub (slightly larger than a household one).

Facilities & Amenities

There is a shared kitchen, where you can use a refrigerator, rice cooker, microwave oven, electric kettle, cooking utensils, tableware, and seasonings (salt, pepper, soy sauce, etc.). The kitchen also has a self-service free drink corner, and there is a water server in the common area of the guest hall.

• Bath: Guest Hall = private shower room (for one person) / Annex = shared bathroom with bathtub
• Toilet: Guest Hall = 2 shared locations / Annex = 1 private location
• Washing machine/dryer: Available (200 yen/use each, 17:00-23:00, please notify staff when using)
• Wi-Fi: Available
• Parking: Approximately 10 free spaces in front of the main hall on the temple grounds. Bicycle parking also available (free, no reservation required)
• Bicycle rental: Free (Please ask the on-site staff)
• Smoking: Only in designated indoor/outdoor areas (shared areas are non-smoking)

Amenities provided: Bath towel, face/hand towel, body soap, shampoo, conditioner (installed in bathroom and shower room), hair dryer, slippers.

Amenities not provided: Toothbrush set, sleepwear (pajamas/yukata), cleansing oil, lotion, cotton swabs, cotton pads, comb, razor, television. Please bring your own toothbrush and sleepwear.

Meals

Meals are not included in the accommodation fee. If you wish to have meals, please make a reservation in advance.

• Dinner(Reservation required): Shojin yudofu (Buddhist vegetarian hot tofu) (for 2 people or more, 4,500 yen per person, reservation by 14 days in advance)/ Shojin curry (Buddhist vegetarian curry) (for 1 person or more, 2,000 yen per person). This may be in a self-cooking format. If you cancel after ingredients have been purchased, a cancellation fee will be incurred.
• Breakfast: Regular breakfast is not provided.Morning porridge experience(1,500 yen per person, from 8:30 AM) can be reserved. Guests departing early in the morning can eat items purchased in advance in the kitchen.
• Barbecue: A barbecue set (charged, payment on-site) and space are available. Please bring your own food and drinks.
• At Daitaiji, we also offer "nosh" (side dishes that can be heated in a microwave), seasonings, and alcoholic beverages. There are no restaurants within walking distance.

For food allergies or dietary restrictions, please provide details when making your reservation. We will accommodate as much as possible.

Regarding your stay

Check-in is from 15:00 to 21:00 (arrival by 19:00 is recommended. Staff may not be present after this time), check-out is 10:00 (12:00 for plans with late check-out). Early check-in is not available.

Luggage storage is available before check-in and after check-out (please consult with on-site staff). Payment on-site can be made by card or cash. There are steps and gravel paths within the temple grounds.

Facilities and Equipment

• Guest Hall capacity 8 people / Annex capacity 2 people
• Guest Hall 37 tatami mats / Annex 9 tatami mats
• Wi-Fi
• Shared kitchen
• Shower rooms / Shared baths
• Washing machine / Dryer (200 yen each)
• Hair dryer
• Check-in 15:00-21:00 / Check-out 10:00
• Free parking (approx. 10 cars)
• JR Kii-Katsuura Station: approx. 15 min by taxi
• Steps and gravel paths present
• No smoking in common areas (designated smoking area available)

Experiences

The head priest will guide you through various experiences, from ascetic practices unique to a Rinzai Zen temple to activities utilizing Kumano's nature.

🔴Booking conditions: Experiences areonly available to staying guests.Those who book plans with two meals and experiencesare eligible, andfor room-only plans, only the "morning service" and "zazen" are available. For experiences other than those requiring advance booking, the content will be decided on the day in consultation with the head priest. As the head priest conducts the experiences,they may not be available depending on the day's circumstances.

Buddhist Experiences

• Morning service— From 6:00 AM, approx. 15 minutes, 500 yen.Available even for room-only guests.This is the morning prayer held in the main hall. Prayers are offered to the principal image, successive abbots, and deceased parishioners. We pray for the health of participating guests andbestow amuletsis available.
• Zazen— 6:30 AM~・Approx. 1 hour・1,500 yen (reservation required). Even if you are staying without meals, you can participate.This is a fundamental training method of Zen Buddhism to stabilize the mind by correcting posture, sitting, and regulating breathing. At Daitaiji, we also talk about Zen koans, which are characteristic of the Rinzai sect.
• Buddhist Statue Tour— 6:30 PM~・1,000 yen (reservation required; may not be held if the head priest is absent). You can view Buddhist statues from various periods such as Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo with a guide.
• Goshuin Making— 3:30 PM / 4:30 PM / 5:30 PM / 7:30 PM~・1,000 yen (reservation required). As proof of your visit to Daitaiji, you can create your own goshuin. There are samples of characters to write, so even first-timers can feel at ease.
• Sutra Copying Experience— 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM / 8:00 PM~・Approx. 1 hour・1,500 yen (reservation required). This is a practice passed down from the Asuka period, where you copy sutras containing the teachings of Buddha. As you carefully copy each character, you can feel a sense of calm, relaxation, and improved concentration.
• Morning Porridge Experience— 8:30 AM~・Approx. 30 minutes・1,500 yen (reservation required). You will enjoy morning porridge as a temple meal. Warm porridge is said to improve blood circulation and boost metabolism, promoting health from within. During the meal, we will instruct you on unique eating customs of Zen temples that allow you to deeply appreciate the life you are receiving.
• Evening Bell Ringing— 5:00 PM~・Free (same-day application possible). You can experience ringing the temple's evening bell. If you wish to participate, please inform the staff at check-in.
• Zen Sauna | Ryujoan— 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (3 hours)・5,000 yen/person (reservation required). A part of the temple building has been renovated into a sauna room. You can experience the harmony of Zen and sauna in a completely private space.

Local & Nature Experiences

• Zen Sauna | Riverside Terrace— 9:00 AM / 11:30 AM / 2:00 PM~ (2 hours each)・3,000 yen/person (reservation required). Listen to a dharma talk about the connection between Zen and sauna, and look at nature and yourself from a new perspective. The cold bath uses the Ota River, which shares its source with Nachi Falls. This is a special sauna experience where you sharpen your five senses and feel a sense of unity with yourself and nature.
• Strawberry Picking— 7,500 yen/up to 4 people (1,500 yen for each additional person). You can experience strawberry picking at a nearby farm. Please consult us in advance for the implementation period (reservation required).
• Calligraphy Class— 5,000 yen/person (advance reservation required). You can experience Japanese culture at a local calligraphy class. Pick-up and drop-off are also available.
• Mehari Sushi Making— This is a local dish from the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture, characterized by its unique appearance and preparation method. You can learn about the local food culture (for overnight guests only).
• Firewood Splitting Experience— This is an experience where you split firewood, which has been cut down for forest conservation in the surrounding area, for use in saunas and camping (for campers only).
• Bamboo Lantern Making— You can make bamboo lanterns using bamboo from the temple grounds. If you put a candle inside and decorate with them, they become fantastic interior decorations (for campers only).

Wellness Experience

• Night Yoga— Night yoga held in the main hall. It's a special time while gazing at the garden illuminated by the moonlight.

About Booking Experiences

For experiences requiring advance reservations,please apply via message on the reservation site after booking your accommodation, or through theinquiry formon this website. We also accept consultations before booking. Applications upon arrival are possible, but if you arrive late, we recommend booking in advance.

Access

775 Shimowada, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-5148 Phone: 0735-57-0234

: Hanwa Expressway → Kisei Expressway Susami-Minami IC → Turn upstream at the Yatagano intersection on National Route 42 and drive for about 5 minutes.

• From Nagoya area: Tomeihan Expressway / Ise Expressway → Seiwa-Taki IC → Kumano-Odai IC → Turn right at the Ichiyano traffic light on National Route 42, then turn left at the bridge 500m ahead and drive for about 2 minutes.
• Parking in front of the temple grounds and main hall isfree

available (approx. 10 cars).Access by Train/BusJR Taiji Station

(nearest station) approx. 5 minutes by taxi (30-40 minutes on foot)

• JR Kii-Katsuura Stationapprox. 15 minutes by taxi
• JR Kii-Katsuura StationTake the town bus Ota Line to "Shimowada" stop, then 5 minutes on foot (⚠️
• Only 3 buses per day. To catch the last bus, you need to arrive at Kii-Katsuura Station by 16:30)From Osaka, please take the Limited Express Kuroshio (bound for Shingu Station). From Nagoya, please take the Limited Express Nanki (bound for Kii-Katsuura Station). From Tokyo, there is also a night bus "Nanki Katsuura Onsen" (from Omiya/Ikebukuro/Shinjuku/Shin-Yokohama).Taxi

: Crystal Taxi Katsuura Office 0735-52-0444 / Kumano Daiichi Kotsu Katsuura Office 0735-52-2525

Access by AirNanki-Shirahama Airport

→ Bus to JR Kii-Katsuura Station → Town bus Ota Line to "Shimowada" stop, then 5 minutes on foot.

Nearby AttractionsNachi Falls and Three-storied Pagoda / Taiji Field Kayak

UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo

• Nachi Falls / Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine— Nachi Falls, boasting Japan's greatest drop, and the vermilion three-storied pagoda.
• Taiji Field Kayak— Explore the intricate coves by kayak.
• Spectacular Scenery Throughout the Seasons— Enjoy the scenery of Nachikatsuura, surrounded by mountains and the sea.
• Dining & Shopping: Within walking or cycling distance: "Kino-sha" (open Fridays and Saturdays only). The nearest convenience store is

Lawson Katsuura-cho Shimozato Store ↗, and the supermarket isHATI ↗There are also restaurants around Kii-Katsuura Station. There is a river where you can swim freely, a 5-minute walk from the shukubo (temple lodging).ClimateSummers are hot and humid, and temperatures do not drop much even in the mornings and evenings. In winter, there is almost no snow, but it can get quite cold at night due to the proximity of mountains and the sea. Nights are quiet, surrounded by nature.

Frequently Asked QuestionsBefore Booking

What are the check-in and check-out times? What if I arrive late?

Check-in is from 15:00 to 21:00 (

We will check the availability for your requested dates and number of people and provide you with the details.