Jimyoin is a temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism on Mount Koya, Wakayama, and a sub-temple of Kongobuji with centuries of history. It takes overnight guests as a shukubo, or temple lodging, in Japanese-style rooms surrounded by four gardens. Before you book, three things matter: every plan on the booking page has no bath and no toilet in the room; the vegetarian shojin meals are served in your room; and the gate closes at 21:00.
Jimyoin, Koyasan, at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 455 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama |
| Phone | +81-736-56-2222 (7:00–18:00 Japan time) |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Gate closes | 21:00 |
| Rooms | Japanese-style; no bath or toilet in the room (booking page) |
| Meals | Shojin ryori dinner and breakfast, served in your room |
| Baths | Large baths for men and women, 16:00–21:00 |
| Morning service | 6:30 (April–October), 7:00 (November–March) |
| Price | From 13,200 yen per adult, tax included (booking page) |
| Parking | About 30 cars, free |
From the official site and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
What to expect at Jimyoin
What are the rooms like?
The rooms are purely Japanese-style, and the temple says each one looks out on the seasons in its four gardens, large and small. The sliding doors are decorated with paintings by Japanese artists including Kano Tsunenobu and Tosa Mitsuoki. Rooms lock, and come with heating (some with air conditioning), a TV, a safe, a phone, yukata, a toothbrush and towels.
The official booking page marks every plan as having no bath and no toilet in the room, including the larger room of 8 plus 4 mats with an anteroom.
What else can guests see and do?
The temple holds portraits of Azai Nagamasa, Oichi and others that are designated Important Cultural Properties, and its treasures can be viewed only by lodging guests and members of the temple. The main hall and principal images are not open to the public. Guests may join the morning service, which starts at 6:30 from April to October and at 7:00 from November to March. Sutra copying of the Heart Sutra is 1,000 yen.
Meals at Jimyoin
What is shojin ryori, and where is it served?
Dinner and breakfast are shojin ryori, Buddhist temple food made without fish or meat from seasonal ingredients, and you eat it in your room. The temple notes that the dishes change a little with the season. Dinner and breakfast are for lodging guests only. A lunch is also served from 11:30 to 14:00 by reservation only, booked by the day before.
Can the temple handle allergies or a vegan diet?
The official pages say meals for children can be prepared if you reserve them. They do not mention allergies, vegan, or gluten-free meals, or what the broth is made from. If you have a strict diet, ask the temple before you book.
The baths at Jimyoin
When are the baths open, and are they an onsen?
There is a men’s bath of green granite and a women’s bath of marble, open 16:00 to 21:00. The temple describes the water as clean water from a stream on the hill behind it, heated; it is not described as an onsen. Body towels, soap, body soap, shampoo, conditioner and hair dryers are provided. The official pages do not mention a private bath.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the temple before you book; our tattoo and bathing guide explains what to ask.
Prices, children and booking rules at Jimyoin
How much does a stay cost?
All plans include dinner and breakfast. The official booking page lists, per adult, tax included:
| Plan on the booking page | From (per adult) |
|---|---|
| Solo-traveler plan, room chosen by the temple | 13,200 yen |
| Room chosen by the temple | 14,300 yen |
| Women’s trip plan with healthy shojin meals | 14,300 yen |
| New Year room | 15,400 yen |
| 8 + 4 mat room with anteroom, deluxe shojin meal | 17,600 yen |
Official booking page, read October 20, 2026. Prices change by date.
The official pages do not state any local accommodation or bathing tax, so ask the temple whether anything is added at the desk.
What do children cost?
The lodging page lists: infants up to 3 stay free without meals or bedding; children from 3 to school age pay 50 percent of the adult rate; and elementary school children pay 70 percent. Both of the paid rates include yukata and slippers.
What about cancellation and payment?
The official website and the plan list on the booking page do not show a cancellation policy or accepted payment methods. Check the terms on your plan before you confirm, and see our hotel cancellation guide for how fees work in Japan. The temple asks guests to book by the day before.
Getting to Jimyoin
How do I get there by train and bus?
Nankai Koya Line trains run from Namba to Koyasan; the temple lists about 1 hour 40 minutes by limited express (4 round trips a day) and about 2 hours by express (about every 30 minutes). From Koyasan Station, take the Nankai bus bound for Okunoin for about 15 minutes, get off at Rengedani, and walk about 1 minute. A taxi is also possible. The official pages do not mention a pickup. Okunoin can be reached on foot from the temple; our Koyasan guide covers the rest of the mountain.
Can I drive and park?
Yes. The temple’s parking holds about 30 cars, free. In winter, snow can make it unusable, and the temple says winter tires or chains are needed.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Jimyoin
- The official website is in Japanese only, and so is the booking page. A translation tool helps.
- Pack for shared toilets and baths; no plan has them in the room.
- The baths close at 21:00, the same time as the gate, so bathe before late walks.
- For lodging questions, the phone line (7:00 to 18:00 Japan time) is the most direct contact the official pages list.
- Drivers in winter should be ready for snow and may find the parking closed.
Frequently asked questions
Do rooms at Jimyoin have a private bathroom?
What time is check-in at Jimyoin?
Is the food at Jimyoin vegetarian?
Can I join the morning service at Jimyoin?
How do I get to Jimyoin from Koyasan Station?
Bottom line (2026): Jimyoin is a quiet Koyasan temple lodging with four gardens, painted sliding doors and vegetarian shojin meals served in your room, a minute from the Rengedani bus stop. Rooms share toilets and baths, the gate closes at 21:00, and booking is on the Japanese official booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Jimyoin’s official pages: home (Japanese), lodging, about the temple, history, access, events and contact, and the official booking page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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