Shogoin Gotenso is lodging inside the grounds of Shogoin Monzeki, a temple in a quiet residential part of Kyoto, north of Heian Jingu and south of Kyoto University. In 1788, after the Great Tenmei Fire, Emperor Kokaku used the temple as a temporary imperial palace, and a building linked to him still stands in the inn’s garden. Before you book, three things matter: it mainly hosts groups, so dates for individual guests are limited; it has four large baths and a free foot bath; and guests can join the temple’s morning prayer for free.
Shogoin Gotenso at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 15 Shogoin-nakamachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8324 |
| Buildings | Main building Gotenso, annex Kojun, new building Kinrin Bettei |
| Rooms | A range of sizes for different group sizes; garden views from every room |
| Baths | Four large baths (for 30 to 40 people each); a hinoki bath for 1–2 in Kojun; free foot bath |
| Prices | From 11,000 yen room only, from 15,500 yen with two meals (unit not stated) |
| Experience | Morning prayer at the temple, free for guests |
| Booking | Official booking page, Rakuten Travel, or phone |
| Phone | +81-75-771-4151 |
From the official site and booking page, read October 20, 2026.
The temple dates from the Heian period and is the head temple of the Honzan Shugen school. Its grounds keep a shoin hall listed as an Important Cultural Property, a study said to have been built in one night for Emperor Kokaku, and a tea room. The new building’s name, Kinrin, means “brocade forest,” after the woods that covered the area until the Meiji era. You may see the inn’s name written as Shogo-in Goten-so or, on the booking page, Shougoin Gotensou; they are the same place.
When can individual guests stay at Shogoin Gotenso?
This is the first thing to check. The inn hosts school trips, study tours and banquets, and in July 2026 it posted a yearly calendar of the dates that are easier for individual guests. It says June is full in both halves of the month and April is heavily booked. For October and November, it says weekends may have rooms and asks you to get in touch.
When we searched the booking page for one night in early December for two adults, it showed no vacancies. If your dates show nothing, phone the inn or use the English contact form; the inn notes that replies may take time.
Getting to Shogoin Gotenso from Kyoto Station
Which bus do I take?
From Kyoto Station, take a city bus to Kumano Jinja-mae, then walk 4 minutes; the inn puts the trip at about 35 minutes. Or take the Karasuma subway line from Kyoto to Marutamachi (about 7 minutes), then a city bus from Karasuma Marutamachi to Kumano Jinja-mae (about 8 minutes). The inn lists routes 206, 201, 204 and 93. By car, it is about 5.5 km, around 22 minutes.
How do I find the entrance?
Go in through the main gate of Shogoin Monzeki and turn left; Gotenso and Kojun are there. The official pages do not mention parking or a shuttle, so ask the inn if you plan to drive.
The baths at Shogoin Gotenso
What baths are there?
There are four large baths “for men and women combined”: two for 40 people and two for 30. The Kojun annex has a hinoki (cypress) bath for one or two people. Outside, the Shirakawa foot bath uses spring water from Mount Hiei; it is open from 7:00 to 21:00, free, with free towels.
When are they open, and can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages give no hours for the large baths, do not say whether they are hot-spring water or have an outdoor bath, and do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals and the morning prayer at Shogoin Gotenso
What is the kaiseki like?
The inn’s dining page lists October kaiseki courses at 6,600, 7,700 and 8,800 yen, including tax and service, and a Tokiwa bento from 4,500 yen. The 6,600-yen Ume course has 11 items, from an aperitif and sashimi to tempura, seasonal rice and dessert. In winter, the banquet menu adds the inn’s Shogoin hot pot. For more Kyoto food nearby, see our yudofu guide.
What is the morning prayer?
Guests can join the temple’s morning prayer for free, and breakfast follows at 7:30; the inn describes it as a breakfast its chefs take care over. Dinner times, where meals are served and whether the kitchen can handle allergies or special diets are not on the official pages, so ask when you book.
Prices, taxes and rules at Shogoin Gotenso
How much does a stay cost?
A notice on the Japanese site, dated August 1, 2026, gives minimums of from 11,000 yen room only and from 15,500 yen with two meals. It does not say whether these are per person or per room, so confirm on your plan. Regular plan prices could not be read on the booking page, which showed no vacancies.
What is the Kyoto accommodation tax?
| Room charge per person per night | Kyoto accommodation tax |
|---|---|
| Under 6,000 yen | 200 yen |
| 6,000 to under 20,000 yen | 400 yen |
| 20,000 to under 50,000 yen | 1,000 yen |
| 50,000 to under 100,000 yen | 4,000 yen |
| 100,000 yen or more | 10,000 yen |
Kyoto City, rates from March 1, 2026. Meals and consumption tax are not counted. Pay it at the inn.
What about children, cancellation and payment?
The booking page has guest types for older and younger elementary schoolchildren and for infants with or without meals and bedding, but no child prices could be read. The cancellation policy and payment methods are not on the official pages either. Ask the inn, and see our hotel cancellation guide for what to check.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Shogoin Gotenso
- The inn has an English website, but notices about prices and special events are in Japanese only.
- Look for weekend dates in October and November; spring and June are hard to get.
- Enter through the temple’s main gate, then turn left.
- Budget for the Kyoto accommodation tax; Kyoto City says it is paid to the inn.
- Ask about bath hours, check-in times and the cancellation rule before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to book Shogoin Gotenso as an individual traveler?
What time is check-in at Shogoin Gotenso?
Can I use the baths at Shogoin Gotenso with a tattoo?
How much does Shogoin Gotenso cost?
How do I get to Shogoin Gotenso from Kyoto Station?
Bottom line (2026): Shogoin Gotenso lets you sleep inside a Kyoto temple that once served as a temporary imperial palace, with four large baths, a free foot bath and a free morning prayer. It mainly hosts groups, so check the booking page early and ask the inn about times and rules.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Shogoin Gotenso’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), rooms, baths, foot bath, Kojun, October kaiseki, experiences, access and news, the official English booking page, and Kyoto City’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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