
Higashiōmi/Shounji Top Hotel Picks
Select your travel dates to find the best prices and availability

Select your travel dates to find the best prices and availability

Everything you need to know about 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
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