These are lodging facilities located within shrines and temples. Originally intended for monks and worshippers, they are now popular among general tourists as places where they can easily stay overnight and experience shojin ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine) and traditional culture in a unique, out-of-the-ordinary setting.
Many shukubo accept online reservations.
Even the general public can book and stay at them just as they would at a hotel or ryokan while traveling.
The major difference is that you can “experience living traditions and culture firsthand.” The morning after staying at a shukubo, many temples hold morning services (kin’gyō). Activities such as copying sutras, zazen meditation, and listening to talks by monks are experiences unique to staying at a shukubo.
Differences from Hotels and Ryokans
Purpose: Unlike general lodging facilities, which primarily aim to provide comfort, shukubo are places designed to allow guests to experience the culture and spirituality of temples and shrines and to purify both body and mind.
Facilities: While many shukubo have shared restrooms and baths, an increasing number have been renovated to ensure a comfortable stay and are now equipped with amenities such as Wi-Fi.
Etiquette: As temples and shrines are sacred places, curfews may be set early, and guests are expected to behave with discretion.
