Saizenin (written Saizen-in on its English site) is a temple on Koyasan, Wakayama, where you can stay the night as a guest. The temple says it was founded in the Heian period by Myojaku Ajari, and it holds the rank of bekkaku honzan. Before you book, three things matter: the standard plan includes two shojin (Buddhist vegetarian) meals; check-in on most two-meal plans ends at 17:00; and only some rooms have their own bath or toilet.
Saizenin at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 154 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama |
| Rooms | 15 guest rooms; whole temple non-smoking (smoking area provided) |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–18:00 (many two-meal plans: by 17:00) / 10:00 |
| Meals | Shojin dinner at 17:00 or 17:30; breakfast in the morning |
| Bath | Large shared bath, mountain spring water, heated |
| Morning service | 6:30 in the main hall, optional |
| Prices | From 11,000 yen per person with two meals (2 guests); room only from 7,000 yen |
| Taxes | None listed |
| Languages | English website; booking page in English, Chinese and Korean too |
From the official site and booking page, read October 16, 2026.
Two stories set the temple apart. The Buddhist teacher Shinran is said to have trained for 100 days here before the main image of Amida, and the temple says a statue he made of himself is kept in its main hall. And the Showa-era garden designer Shigemori Mirei made three gardens here, registered as national monuments in 2010. If you ask, you can also stay in the room where Konosuke Matsushita stayed.
Which room should you book at Saizenin?
The booking page lists 11 room types, from 13 to 60 m². Most have air conditioning and free Wi-Fi in the name; a bath, shower or toilet is named only on some. The table shows what each name says.
| Room type | Size | Guests | Own bath or toilet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ege, 6 mats | 13 m² | 1–3 | Not named |
| Ege, 8 + 6 mats | 25 m² | 1–4 | Not named |
| Nishi-shoin, 8 mats, garden side | 15 m² | 1–4 | Washbasin |
| Oku-shoin, 8 + 6 mats | 30 m² | 1–5 | Toilet |
| Special Room A | 20 m² | 1–4 | Bath and toilet |
| Special Room B, 18 mats | 40 m² | 1–6 | Shower and toilet |
| Jr. Suite, night garden view | 51 m² | 1–5 | Bath and toilet |
| Suite | 60 m² | 1–6 | Bath and toilet |
Selected room types from the official Japanese booking page, read October 16, 2026.
What is in every room?
Towels, a toothbrush, a yukata robe and a safe are provided, and the trainee monks lay out and put away your futon. The Suite has two single beds, with futons in its Japanese room from the third guest. Outside the Jr. Suite, the corridor becomes private from 20:00 to 6:00 (times change by season), so you can view the Shigemori Mirei garden at leisure.
Shojin meals at Saizenin
What are dinner and breakfast like?
The temple serves shojin ryori: classic sesame tofu and Koya tofu along with local seasonal ingredients, and it notes the food goes well with sake. You choose dinner at 17:00 or 17:30; in some seasons dinner from 17:30 and breakfast are served in the large hall rather than your room. The sample schedule puts breakfast at 7:15.
Can the temple handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not mention allergies or other diets. If you have an allergy or follow a strict diet, email or call the temple before you book.
What if I book room only?
The room-only plan allows you to bring your own food and drinks, but not to cook in the room. The temple warns that places to eat on the mountain close early, so plan dinner ahead.
The bath and the morning service
What is the bath like?
There is a large shared bath; the temple says the water comes from a mountain spring and is heated, and it does not call it an onsen. Bath hours are not stated. Rooms with their own bath are listed above.
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.
What happens at the morning service?
The day starts with the morning service in the main hall at 6:30: about 20 minutes of chanting, then a Buddhist talk of about 15 minutes. It is optional. The sample schedule then has breakfast and time to see the Shigemori Mirei gardens before checkout at 10:00.
Prices, children and payment at Saizenin
How much does a stay cost?
As of October 16, 2026, the official booking page starts the standard plan with two shojin meals at 22,000 yen for two (11,000 yen per person) in the smallest room, up to 34,000 yen for two in larger rooms. Room only starts at 7,000 yen per person. The Japanese version of the booking page also lists a sutra-copying plan from 24,200 yen for two and a Danjo Garan walk with a monk from 28,000 yen for two, plus a 1,000 yen offering for the guide. Memorial services and prayers start at 3,000 yen. No taxes are listed.
What do children cost?
Ages 6 to 12 pay the adult rate and eat the same shojin meals. Under 6, it is 6,000 yen with meals and a futon, 1,500 yen with a futon only, or free with neither. Meals for children under school age are a kids’ plate, not shojin.
What is the cancellation policy?
The public pages we could read do not show the cancellation rule; it appears during booking. Check it on your plan before you pay. Our hotel cancellation guide lists what to look for.
How do I pay?
The booking page offers payment in advance or at the temple, but some plans limit this. The sutra-copying plan takes cash only if you pay at the temple, and memorial and prayer plans cannot be paid by card.
Getting to Saizenin on Koyasan
Take the Nankai cable car to Koyasan Station. From the station bus stop, Senju-Daimon line 31 runs to Kondo-mae, about 3 minutes’ walk from the temple, and line 32 to Daitoguchi, about 2 minutes’ walk. On foot from the station, the temple puts it at 50 minutes. By car, use the Koyaguchi exit of the Keinawa Expressway and Route 370; parking is not stated. Station pickup is offered only on the plan for guests aged 50 and over, by reservation. For the rest of the mountain, see our Koyasan guide.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Saizenin
- Arrive by 17:00 on most two-meal plans; dinner starts at 17:00 or 17:30.
- Need your own bath or toilet? Book a room whose name lists one.
- Carry cash if you book a memorial or prayer plan.
- Eat early or bring food on a room-only stay; places on the mountain close early.
- Questions go to saizenin@koya.or.jp or +81 736-56-2411; there is no contact form.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a night at Saizenin cost?
What time is check-in at Saizenin?
Is the bath at Saizenin an onsen?
Do I have to join the morning service at Saizenin?
What is the cancellation policy at Saizenin?
Bottom line (2026): Saizenin is a Koyasan temple stay with shojin meals, an optional 6:30 service and three Shigemori Mirei gardens. Pick a room with its own bath if you need one, arrive by 17:00 on meal plans, and check the cancellation rule when you book on the official page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Saizenin’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), and the official booking page in Japanese and English. All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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