When you arrive - do NOT walk up the stairs of Enlightenment. There are a large set of steps that lead up to the temple. The housing is NOT at the top of those steps. You do not need to cary all of your luggage up those stairs.

Book it! What an amazing way to experience Japan. This was the highlight of our 2 week stay in Japan. The hosts are very VERY nice, we do not speak Japanese but that was no problem, the night we got there they had a tradition Drum performance, the morning prayers in the morning was very special, and the food was very traditional.

Stayed in February 2023

nothing!

traditional, tranquil and scenic

Stayed in March 2023

All of our meals were excellent. Surprised how full we were after a vegetarian dinner. It rained on the morning of our full day here but used this to our advantage and tried on the wedding and samurai kimonos. The afternoon was fine for visiting the temples and tomb which was especially nice.

Stayed in March 2023

Entrance is on a steep hill so better to drive or pack a day pack, best not to be pulling a heavy suitcase from the minobusan bus stop!

Foreigner friendly, staff know decent English, yet are patient enough to entertain me in my low level Japanese speech ability, switching to English when I couldn’t understand. The room is HUGE. Everything is clean and well maintained. Appreciate that they took the initiative to get guests to sign up for using the amenities like booking onsen timing, kimono trying, giving advice on visiting Kuonji temple for the morning prayers etc. Even helped me prepare my breakfast early as I had to catch an early Highway bus, very accommodating.

Stayed in March 2023

Nothing.

Beautiful area and secluded at this time of the year. Great for travellers looking for some peace. Everyone at the temple lodging were warm and welcoming and food is the best!

Stayed in February 2023

Staff were very helpful w directions, food explanations and travel plans,we would highly recommend and hope to return next trip to Japan

Stayed in March 2023

Three things I liked the most about my stay were 1) The amazingly accommodating staff, with whom I had some friendly conversations 2) The convenient hiking trails and sightseeing opportunities and 3) The unique food and drink, especially their novel temple beer. Overall, I was more than satisfied and will definitely return in the future.

Stayed in January 2023

Nothing, everything was amazing.

Staff is exceptionally hospitable and you will notice how much they love their job. They also speak good english,which is helpful for international guests like me. This was my first visit to this place, but I will come back for sure. Especially since I couldn't do all the activities I wanted due to an unexpected amount of snow during my stay. The room itself was fairly large, the kutatsu very comfortable and the futon bed amazing to sleep on. The building itself is several centuries old, so you will get the flair of old japan, which I enjoyed very much, but also be adviced that it gets a bit colder during winter. The surrounding area and village is very tranquil and quiet, ideal to rest and calm down.

Stayed in February 2023

The staff was incredibly friendly. The area around the lodging is stunningly beautiful. It is easy to reach all of the main attractions on foot. There is plenty to do in the area!

Stayed in February 2023

There is nothing that I didn’t like.

The service was amazing. The employees were very attentive and made sure you have everything you need. The food was the best food out of the entire holiday in Japan. The garden and surrounding area is so beautiful. Definitely recommend staying here and taking the time to walk up Mt Minobu. If you can’t speak Japanese very well it’s no problem. Most staff speak excellent English and the remainder still communicate very well and are super friendly. All staff were happy to answer our questions about food and places to see.

Stayed in February 2023

Advice: if you arrive by bus with luggage, avoid the (many) stairs. Follow the road up a bit longer and it leads you to the temple as well.

We were very impressed by the refinement and variety of the food. Very nice people. Nice walk up to the top of the mountain, with many temples in great condition along the way. Note, it’s also possible to go up by cable car and have a front-seat view of Mount Fuji.

Stayed in February 2023

Just be aware it can be a bit of a trek uphill once you reach the last stop at the bus station, so get your walking shoes on.

The hospitality in this temple lodging is supremely unmatched. We were met with such a warm, inviting aura by the staff and the temple. Our room was extremely spacious, with loads of decorum adding to the overall experience. Along with that, we had the opportunity to do a plethora of activities, including calligraphy, yoga, temple prayers(at the big temple, about a 20-minute walk early in the morning at 6:00 a.m.), kimono wearing, you can rent electric bikes, and what we were able to do was the kintsugi course. Repairing broken pottery was a very therapeutic and educational venture that is something off the beaten course and should be included in everyone's adventure when they visit. The food was presented in such a charming and elegant manner. I'd recommend having breakfast and dinner here, the view from the dining room area out to the garden is something you'd have to see for yourself because it is incomparable and pictures don't do it justice. I loved the courses they gave us, quite filling and the flavor profiles on every dish was greatly influenced by passion and love for each ingredient. This area is one hell of diamond in a land of so many jewels.

Stayed in January 2023

Access to the place was a steep uphill, however the staff were kind enough to offer us a lift

Warm friendly staff, great location close to many temples and mount minobu.

Stayed in January 2023

Nothing.

Really nice and professional staff! They love what they do and it shows in their work!

Stayed in December 2022

gets a bit cold at night, bring extra layers!

everything about this place is so beautiful — the rooms, the temple ground, the staff, the food. highly highly recommend

Stayed in December 2022

All was good

A special place, with good, pleasant people, special dinner, large rooms, a quality public bath and attractions of the house. This place is a rare find. And it's minutes away from the main temple, meaning you can walk to the first prayers of the day. Gorgeous walks, wonderful views - all very close by. I recommend it immensely.

Stayed in December 2022

This is a special place for anyone looking for a traditional stay in picturesque surroundings amongst Buddhist temples, nature trails and mountain views. The personnel went up and above to help us accommodate. Even though it was a bit chilly in December there was a heater in the room and the futon-bed was super-comfortable & warm. The vegetarian kaiseki dinner was served beautifully and well worth its price.

Stayed in December 2022

It was not an issue to me and it was even nice I would say but the temple stay is located in the mountains so it can be quite hilly at times if you don’t have a car and need to walk just so you are aware of that.

The staff is exceptionally kind and even took me and some other guests to discover the surroundings. They are very accommodating so if there is any special request or activity you may want to do feel free to ask and they will try their best to make you happy. The food (mostly vegetarian with a little bit of fish sometimes) is so pretty, healthy and delicious. Minobu is quiet, pretty and off the beaten tracks. The temple complex nearby (15min walk) where you can participate in the morning prayers is gorgeous.

Stayed in December 2022

The staff was very helping and welcoming. It is ideally located to discover the minobusan area.

Stayed in December 2022

there was nothing to like! haha I loved everything. highly recommend and will be going back. it felt like Home

the history and the amazing staff! everyone was so welcoming and loving. the food was amazing and all the many activities they had for us. Junko was such a amazing wholesome woman with such a big heart and creativity. the way she designed the zencho cafe is every interior designer dream. loved every little detail. her son was amazing with the night dance activities and helping us guide throughout the small town.

Stayed in November 2022

Lovely warm and welcoming staff, comfortable room and futon. Delicious food with beautiful temple and surroundings!

Stayed in November 2022

Very authentic place surrounded with beautiful nature and shrines. It is really special location - you can hear monks chanting in the morning and evening. Staff was welcoming and made sure that our stay was smooth.

Stayed in November 2022

Not a criticism - just a fact: Although it would have made it more comfortable to have a little more information about how things worked (e.g, light switch in front of room door, where one should take off shoes and slippers, use of the Yukata, etc.), having to ask/figure it out/guess made it feel more authentic and extraordinary. This was also my inexperience (first time in traditional-style lodging).

Beautiful garden, amazing dinners and breakfasts and kind staff who went out of their way to overcome the language barrier to answer questions (I don't know any Japanese). Going to the morning temple prayers was well worth the early and dark start - it was a unique experience on my 10-day trip that allowed a glimpse into the temples as working places of worship (in addition to being impressive historical and architectural structures). The soaking tub after a day's walk up to Minobusan was wonderful. Comfortable place for solo travelers.

Stayed in December 2022

The temple can be difficult to reach at night so best to arrive while it is still light outside.

The temple is absolutely stunning and in a gorgeous location. We were welcomed warmly by staff that spoke English, given a tour around the temple and booked into the private onsen. The room was spacious with a private bathroom, yukata for both guests, towels, a kettle with complimentary tea and seating area. We were welcomed to take part in a matsuri and one of the staff members translated what was being said into English for us which was very kind and very interesting! The staff prepared a vegan breakfast for us on request which was excellent and we ate with a view of the garden in the morning.

Stayed in November 2022