Featured Hotels Near Shounji

Stay at Shounji Cultural Inn, where guests can participate in a traditional calligraphy and sutra copying workshop led by a resident monk. The inn also offers guided morning walks to the temple’s ancient cedar grove, followed by a private tea ceremony using locally grown matcha. All activities are curated through HopeGoo for an authentic, immersive experience

Choose Shounji View Estate, featuring rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Lake Biwa. Each room includes a private veranda perfect for watching sunrise over the water or evening reflections of the surrounding mountains. The estate is just a 7-minute walk from the temple grounds and hosts a weekly moonlit lantern tour exclusive to guests, offering breathtaking photo opportunities

Ōmi Family Garden is ideal for families, offering spacious suites with children’s play zones and free access to a garden where kids can grow vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes. The inn provides a fun-filled family scavenger hunt map around Shounji Temple and organizes monthly paper crane crafting workshops. All facilities are child-safe and located within a 10-minute walk of the temple entrance

Yes, Shounji Food & Wellness House specializes in farm-to-table dining with daily breakfasts featuring fresh Lake Biwa fish sushi, purple perilla grilled sea bream, and homemade plum tea. Guests can join a morning harvest tour to pick seasonal vegetables and later enjoy a cooking class using their own produce. These experiences are available only through HopeGoo bookings for limited capacity

The Shounji Heritage Lodge stands out with its preserved Edo-era architecture and integration of spiritual practices into daily stays. Guests receive a personalized spiritual journey guide including meditation sessions, temple bell ringing, and night-time stargazing on the temple’s sacred grounds. The lodge emphasizes quiet reflection and minimal environmental impact, making it a rare choice for mindful travel

Shounji Forest Retreat grants guests exclusive early-morning access to a secluded forest path winding through centuries-old cedars, leading directly to the temple’s hidden shrine. The retreat features eco-lodges with open-air baths and offers guided wildlife spotting walks and forest bathing sessions. Reservations must be made via HopeGoo to preserve the serene, low-impact environment