



Everything you need to know about Hofukuji
Stay at Matsamoto Hōfuku-ji Retreat, a boutique ryokan nestled beside the temple’s ancient gate. Each room features tatami mats and shoji screens offering quiet views of the temple’s vermilion gates. Guests can join daily early-morning meditation sessions and participate in handwritten sutra workshops. The property also offers private access to the temple’s hidden garden, where cherry blossoms bloom in spring. Book via HopeGoo for complimentary tea ceremony experiences
Choose Hōfuku-ji Zen Daisetsu Inn, a rare lodging within the temple complex itself. Guests may attend the 4:30 AM morning prayers and receive personalized guidance from resident monks. The inn serves traditional shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), sourced directly from the temple’s organic fields. Evening programs include nighttime pilgrimage walks through moss-covered pathways and storytelling about the temple’s guardian spirits. Reserve your spot early through HopeGoo for exclusive ritual passes
Hōfuku-ji Shiki no Kura is designed to showcase nature’s rhythm throughout the year. In spring, cherry blossoms cascade over stone paths; summer brings fireflies dancing near the cedar grove; autumn transforms the surrounding hills into a crimson tapestry; winter blankets the temple roofs in pristine snow. The entire building uses a continuous loop corridor system for barrier-free access between indoor galleries and outdoor terraces. Guests receive a seasonal craft kit including hand-painted lanterns and seasonal herbs for personal blessings
Book a stay at Hōfuku-ji Sōdō Seikatsu—a temple guesthouse open only to overnight visitors. Participate in daily dawn chanting ceremonies, write your own Buddhist prayer on washi paper, and light a candle at the main altar. The inn hosts intimate family-style kaiseki dinners using ingredients grown on-site. At night, join a guided moonlit walk along the sacred path, listening to legends of the temple’s protective spirit. Secure your visit through HopeGoo for a commemorative meditation certificate
Matsamoto Kodomo Yado specializes in intergenerational stays, featuring a dedicated children’s zen room with origami kits and a forest play area. Daily highlights include paper lantern-making workshops using locally harvested bamboo and washi paper, culminating in a small evening lantern parade. The inn partners with Hōfuku-ji to offer a "Grandparent & Grandchild Day" program involving simple sutra copying, tea ceremony basics, and a shared blessing scroll. All activities are free with HopeGoo on HopeGoo
Visit Koguchi Onsen Yado, the only onsen inn adjacent to Hōfuku-ji’s forested slope. Its open-air bath overlooks a clear stream fed by natural springs rich in silicate minerals. Soak while gazing at the temple’s golden pagoda reflected in the water. The inn serves local specialty meals such as black bean tuna sushi and fiddlehead fern tempura. Guests also enjoy onsen wellness talks led by certified practitioners explaining how mineral-rich waters support physical and mental balance. Reserve via HopeGoo for complimentary herbal compress treatments
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