Kumagaiji is a temple lodging, or shukubo, on Mount Koya in Wakayama. It belongs to the Koyasan Shingon sect and calls itself one of the 52 shukubo on Koyasan, with a few young monks in training living and working there. Before you book, three things matter: check-in on meal plans is only 15:00 to 17:00; the day starts with the 6:30 morning service; and every room is tatami and non-smoking, with a bath and toilet stated only for the VIP room.
Kumagaiji at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama |
| Type | Shukubo (temple lodging), Koyasan Shingon sect |
| Rooms | 6 room types, all tatami, all non-smoking (12 to 45 m²) |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–17:00 (room-only plan until 20:00) / 9:00 |
| Meals | Shojin ryori (temple vegetarian cuisine), dinner and breakfast |
| Bath | Shared, 17:00–22:00 |
| Prices | From 36,000 yen for 2 adults with two meals (18,000 yen per person) |
| Morning service | 6:30 in the main hall, with a goma ritual every morning |
| Parking | Free |
| Phone | +81-736-56-2119 |
Rooms at Kumagaiji
The official site says all rooms are Japanese-style, with kotatsu heated tables for the cold winters and shoji paper screens. The booking page lists six room types. Prices are the lowest shown for two adults with dinner and breakfast.
| Room type | Size | Guests | From (2 adults) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard room, 6 mats | 12 m² | 1–2 | 36,000 yen |
| Two connected rooms, 8 + 6 mats | 22 m² | 1–5 | 38,000 yen |
| Room with veranda, based on a tea room | 15 m² | 1–3 | 40,000 yen |
| Special Room B | 23 m² | 1–4 | 42,000 yen |
| Special Room A | 22 m² | 1–3 | 78,000 yen |
| VIP room with bath, toilet and bedroom | 45 m² | 1–2 | 70,000 yen |
Which room has its own bath and toilet?
Only the VIP room is stated to have a bath and toilet. For the other rooms, the official pages do not say, so ask the temple if that matters to you. Special Room A sits at the very back of the temple; the booking page says its guests meet other guests only at the bath.
What is in every room?
Towels and bath towels, a toothbrush set, a yukata robe, slippers and a free tea set. Free Wi-Fi is listed on the official site. Smoking is allowed only in the temple’s smoking area.
Temple life at Kumagaiji
Can guests join the morning service?
Yes. Guests can attend from 6:30 in the main hall, and the temple holds a goma fire ritual every morning. The booking page adds that monks may sometimes be instructed in front of guests, as part of their training, and asks guests to watch kindly.
What other experiences are offered?
Two add-ons can be booked: ajikan meditation for 2,000 yen per person from 16:00, and sutra copying for 1,000 yen per person. The booking page notes that ajikan may not be available on weekends or in busy periods. The temple also displays old armor and swords.
Meals at Kumagaiji
What are dinner and breakfast like?
Meals are shojin ryori, made without meat or fish. The standard plan serves a main tray and a second tray of seasonal dishes, and the temple is proud of its sesame tofu. Special and VIP room plans add a third tray, with soba and a seasonal main dish. Breakfast is served in the large hall: rice, miso soup, ganmodoki tofu fritters, wheat gluten and seasonal items. Children of elementary-school age and under get a meal with fewer dishes.
Can the temple handle allergies or a special diet?
The temple says vegetarians and guests of other faiths can eat at ease. The official pages say nothing about allergies, so contact the temple before booking if you have one.
The bath at Kumagaiji
The bath is shared and open 17:00 to 22:00; some plans ask guests to finish by about 21:30. The official pages do not describe it as an onsen, and do not mention a private bath. The tattoo rule is not stated either; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Getting to Kumagaiji on Koyasan
From Koyasan Station, take a bus bound for Okunoin and get off at Karukayado-mae. Facing Karukayado, walk left for about 2 minutes. The Okunoin approach is a 3-minute walk, and Kongobuji, the head temple, is about 10 minutes by bus. By car, the temple gives a route from the Katsuragi-nishi IC of the Keinawa Expressway, and parking is free. The official pages do not mention a pickup service. For the wider town, see our Koyasan guide.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment
How much does a stay cost?
With dinner and breakfast, two adults pay from 36,000 yen (18,000 yen each) in a standard room up to 78,000 yen in Special Room A. The booking page does not say whether these prices include tax, and no bathing or accommodation tax is listed. A room-only plan exists, but no price is shown in the list.
What do children cost?
The booking page sets children aged 6 to 12 at 70 percent of the adult rate, and ages 0 to 5 at 50 percent with meals and bedding. A child up to 5 with bedding but no meals is 1,500 yen, and with neither, free.
What is the cancellation policy?
We could not read it on the official pages. Check the conditions on your plan before you confirm, or ask the temple. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how fees in Japan work.
How do I pay?
The official site shows American Express, Mastercard and Visa card icons.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Kumagaiji
- The official site is in Japanese with English text alongside; the booking page opens in Japanese.
- On meal plans, arrive between 15:00 and 17:00. Running late? Call +81-736-56-2119.
- Take off your shoes at the entrance, then confirm your booking at reception.
- The day starts early: the morning service is at 6:30, and checkout is by 9:00.
- Meals are vegetarian temple cuisine; if you have an allergy, tell the temple before you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Kumagaiji?
Can vegetarians stay at Kumagaiji?
Can I join the morning service at Kumagaiji?
What is the cancellation policy at Kumagaiji?
How do I get to Kumagaiji?
Bottom line (2026): Kumagaiji is a Koyasan Shingon shukubo a 3-minute walk from the Okunoin approach, with shojin ryori, a 6:30 morning service with goma, and two-meal stays from 36,000 yen for two adults. Arrive between 15:00 and 17:00, and check the cancellation terms on the official booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Kumagaiji’s official pages: home, shukubo, inside the temple, access and contact (Japanese with English), and the official booking page. All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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