Koyasan Saizen-in Temple — Attraction in Koya

My wife, my 10 year old son and i stayed there for one night. And we loved this place. To get to koyasan you need to take a train, then cable car, and then a bus. It might take 2 ~ 2.5 hours from Osaka. But it is absulutely worth it. The journey to get there is peaceful, The area is peaceful, the saizen in temple is peaceful. People are peaceful. When we are on the train we realized that we will be there at 7 pm. Then i checked the booking and saw that checkin was between 3pm to 5pm. We got anxious that what if they dont accept us. We didnt know what we will encounter. Then we came to temple at 7:30pm and an old monk came out and said, "I am sorry" He was sorry because we missed the dinner :) then I felt a big relief I didnt know how many times he apologized and bowed that there is no dinner at that time. He was also sorry for my son, that he couldnt have dinner. Then he came to our room and brought some tasty cakes for my son, while apologizing. Every time he bowed, we bowed to him and we apologized to him because we were late. And everytime he bowed and we bowed i admired and i felt in love to this great people, and great culture.

There are some restaurants around that area by 5 minute walk. The saizen in location isnearby to a big temple and little far from the cemetery by foot. But walking is also great in a quiet and traditional neghbourhood.

The room design is simple and elegant. The garden view from room was so beatiful.

The rooms, the sinks in the rooms, the shared toilet, onsen bathroom was super clean. Even though they are super clean, i have noticed that some tourists are not sensitive enough which is sad.

We got up early with my son and joined the morning ceremony which was great experience for us. The breakfast was totally traditional/local i think and It was great if you are not picky. Also the area you have breakfast/dinner in the temple has also great view of garden.

I recommend this place to anyone who seek genuine and unique experience with humilty

Also Thank you for letting us and other people...

We expected more for this price.

Firstly, it was not mentioned when we booked that there was an open/close time of the main door (after that time you cannot come in).

Secondly, there is no shower in our room what was mentioned and was ok, but it was not written that bath time is till 20:30 and there is no options to take shower or bath in the morning what was very very very uncomfortable.

It was a winter when we stayed. There was no kotatsu in our room. Electricity was cut after 9 or 10 pm so we could not warm our room by air conditioner. It was cold.

The girl next to our room was talking by her phone till midnight or even later. Next morning we supposed to wake up at 6 am to join a morning pray what was hard because we could not sleep well.If you have a strict rules about door time and bath time you should have a strict rules about noise too.

At the morning we wanted to stay till 10am in our room (because check out time was at 10 am and it was cold and rainy outside). However, we did not feel welcome here anymore. Cleaning staff tried to enter our room to clean rubbish. And so on. If you want to clean rooms as early as you can it’s better to change check out time I think.

I can speak and understand Japanese and I felt all the time that staff is more welcome with Japanese people. If you do not like westerns so much so close this place for them. Otherwise be welcome either for us or for Japanese.

For example, girl sleeping next to us asked me about system at this place because staff did not explain her properly I think. She did not know that door is not possible to lock.

If you want, please, stay here. Maybe they will improve this place and their service soon. But I would rather stay somewhere...

I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to stay here. We booked 2 nights, I believe 1 night wouldn't be enough. We were here in January. Needless to say, IT WAS COLD. We're from the United States, Arizona and used to the heat. It started snowing the day we were traveling to get there. The moment we arrived at the entrance, there were people helping us, telling us to remove our boots. The inside was very cold with no heating, which we expected. We were taken to our room which was wonderfully heated. Hot tea and a cookie were waiting for us. Amazing!!!

The woman who worked at the front desk was extremely helpful with anything we needed. Aki , thank you for everything ( sorry I'm sure I misspelled your name. I appreciate how patient she was with us communicating through Google translate. Aki also helped us, when it was time to leave, ordering a taxi to the cable car. The shuttles weren't working due to the snow.

Dinner was so delicious. I honestly was expecting to still be hungry afterwards, from the pictures I had seen. I was very satisfied and now looking for cook books to attempt to recreate some things!

Morning meditation, was life changing. I am a Respiratory Therapist and couldn't help thinking; WOW, the monks have amazing lung capacity!!!!! lol

Everyone who lived and worked here were above and beyond wonderful people !!!!! The people are the main thing I will remember of this place.

Needless to say, this was an experience of a lifetime. Don't miss out if you have the...