Jokiin (Bosatsu-sho Jokiin) is a temple lodging, or shukubo, of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism on Mount Koya in Wakayama. Its history goes back about 1,200 years to Jichie, the disciple said to have first climbed the mountain with Kobo Daishi. Before you book, three things matter: check-in runs 15:00 to 17:30, and the gate closes at 22:00; meals are shojin ryori with no meat, fish, eggs or dairy, and allergies must be reported 2 days ahead; and it sits about 1 minute on foot from Kongobuji, the head temple.
Jokiin at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 365 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama |
| Phone / email | +81-736-56-2321 / jokiin@jokiin.jp |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–17:30 / 10:00 |
| Gate | Closes 22:00, opens 5:30 |
| Meals | Shojin ryori; dinner in your room, breakfast in the hall |
| Baths | Indoor large baths for men and women (not a hot spring) |
| Price | From 33,800 yen for 2 people with 2 meals (booking page) |
| Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay, PayPay |
| Languages | English and Japanese at the temple office, limited hours |
From the official Japanese pages and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
Where Jokiin is in Koyasan, and how to get there
The temple calls itself right beside Kongobuji, the head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism. Its Japanese site gives these walking times:
| From Jokiin to | On foot |
|---|---|
| Kongobuji | About 1 minute |
| Danjo Garan and Konpon Daito | About 5 minutes |
| Okunoin entrance | About 20 minutes |
| Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum (Gobyo) | About 40 minutes |
From the official stay page, read October 20, 2026.
How do I get there by train and bus?
Take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi; from Namba, the limited express takes 1 hour 40 minutes and the express about 2 hours. Ride the cable car to Koyasan Station (about 5 minutes), then take the mountain bus bound for Daimon and get off at stop 16, Kongobuji-mae. Jokiin is 1 minute away, across the road on the right. On a bus bound for Okunoin, get off at stop 6, Senjuin-bashi (East), and walk 10 minutes. The temple notes that the trip from Kyoto, Nara or Osaka can take 3 to 4 hours. Our Koyasan guide covers the wider mountain.
Can I drive, and is there parking?
The temple warns that car navigation picks a steep old national road as the shortest route, and asks drivers to come via Daimon (from Osaka, Wakayama or Hashimoto) or Nakanohashi (from Ryujin, Hongu or Shirahama). From Osaka it takes about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. You can leave your car and luggage at the temple after checkout, and there is an EV charger. The official pages do not give the number of spaces, a parking fee or a pickup service.
Temple life at Jokiin
What makes the temple special?
The principal image is a seated wooden Jizo Bosatsu, inscribed with the year 1294 and designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. In 2025, the main hall, guest hall, worship hall and gate were registered as Tangible Cultural Properties, and overnight guests can view them for free. By the main gate stands the Aka-Jizo hall, where visitors press gold leaf on a Jizo statue as a prayer.
Can guests join the morning service?
Yes. Overnight guests can join the early-morning service for free, with no booking. Please do not wear your yukata, and take photos only before or after. The official pages list the start time in more than one way, so confirm it with the temple at check-in. Sutra copying costs 200 yen.
Rooms at Jokiin
There are ten room types, from standard Japanese rooms to special rooms and a suite. Only four have their own bath: the Hinoki, Matsu and Kaede rooms, and the suite, which has a semi-open-air bath and a garden view. In the other rooms, guests share the toilets and the large baths, and some standard rooms have no lock but a safe. Every room has a TV, tea set, electric pot, safe, heating and air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The temple is non-smoking, with an outdoor smoking area. Yukata, towels, a toothbrush and slippers are provided, and there is a barrier-free washroom and toilet.
Shojin ryori at Jokiin
When and where are meals served?
Dinner is brought to your room between 17:30 and 18:00. Breakfast is at 7:30 in the large hall, with all guests together. Both are shojin ryori, which the temple says contains no meat, fish, eggs or dairy, cooked by five methods with five flavors and five colors. You cannot book a stay with only one meal. For other options, the FAQ mentions a few izakaya and okonomiyaki shops nearby.
Can the temple handle allergies?
Tell the temple about allergies to buckwheat, soy, gluten, mushrooms or seaweed at least 2 days before your stay, and it will swap dishes. Requests made the day before or on the day cannot be met, and the FAQ says a soy allergy may be hard to cater for. The pages say all ingredients are plant-based but do not describe the soup stock, so ask if that matters to you.
The baths at Jokiin
What are the baths like?
There are separate indoor large baths for men and women, with heated water rather than a hot spring. They open at 16:30 and close at 21:30 from December to March; the large baths are not open in the morning. Part of the water comes from the mountain and may look cloudy after bad weather; it is harmless but not for drinking. Body soap, shampoo and a hair dryer are provided. Closing times outside winter are given in more than one way, so check at the front desk.
Is there a family bath?
The temple announced that work on its family bath began on July 25, 2026, and it has not given an end date. The large baths stay open. If you want to bathe alone, the rooms with their own bath are the sure option.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the temple before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Jokiin
How much does a stay cost?
The official booking page, read in October 2026, shows these lowest prices for 2 people for one night with dinner and breakfast:
| Plan | From (2 people) | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 33,800 yen | 16,900 yen |
| Special room | 39,800 yen | 19,900 yen |
| Cycling (room by the bike area) | 33,800 yen | 16,900 yen |
| Suite with semi-open-air bath | 99,800 yen | 49,900 yen |
From the official booking page, read October 20, 2026. Prices change by date.
Booking on the official site gives 1,100 yen off per adult and a bamboo-fiber bottle for each room. Online bookings close at 16:00 two days before check-in, and stays of 1 to 7 nights can be booked. The official pages do not say whether tax is included, and Koya Town’s tax page does not list a bathing or accommodation tax, so ask when you book.
What do children cost?
The FAQ and the booking page describe child rates in different ways, so confirm the rate for your child with the temple. The FAQ says young children may be served a children’s meal instead of shojin ryori, and asks you to tell the temple in advance if a child aged 2 or under is coming.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official pages do not show a table of cancellation fees by day, so check the terms on your plan when you book. They do warn that if you arrive far past check-in time, dinner may not be served or the booking may be canceled and treated as a same-day cancellation with no refund. Our hotel cancellation guide covers how these fees work in Japan.
How do I pay?
The FAQ lists Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay and PayPay, and the Japanese pages also accept cash. Bookings on the official booking page are paid in advance online.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Jokiin
- Arrive between 15:00 and 17:30; if you will be later, contact the temple in advance by phone or email.
- The gate closes at 22:00 and opens at 5:30; you cannot go out at night in between.
- Report allergies 2 days ahead; on the day it is too late.
- The contact form does not take booking changes; use the booking page or phone.
- The temple has closed for part of January in 2024 and 2025, so check winter dates on the news page.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Jokiin from Kongobuji?
What time is check-in at Jokiin?
Is the food at Jokiin vegetarian?
Can I use the bath at Jokiin with a tattoo?
Is it cheaper to book Jokiin on its official site?
Bottom line (2026): Jokiin is a shukubo about a minute from Kongobuji, with a Jizo statue that is an Important Cultural Property, shojin ryori and indoor large baths. Arrive by 17:30, report allergies 2 days ahead, mind the 22:00 gate, and book on the official booking page for the direct-booking discount.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Jokiin’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), history, staying, rooms and rules, FAQ, access, access (English) and news, the official English booking page and Japanese booking page, plus Koya Town’s tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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