Live Like Monks, Bathe in the Open Air with Your Family: Unique Kansai Accommodations

Kansai offers many accommodations that can be a unique experience to many.

If you visit Japan, there are lots of things to consider when choosing accommodations for a unique experience. The Kansai area offers at least three one-of-a-kind accommodations that you’ll be talking about for years to come!

（1）Experience peace and quiet at a Buddhist temple or shrine (Wakayama / Kyoto / Nara)

(Clockwise from top) At shukubo, you’ll join monks in morning Buddhist service, live in spartan accommodations, and dine on vegetarian cuisine.

Shukubo (literally “sleeping with the monks” in Japanese) refers to the experience of lodging in a Buddhist temple or shrine. There, you can eat shōjin dishes（Buddhist cuisine, usually vegetarian), which are usually prepared for monks and worshipers, experience monks' training and zen meditation (zazen), and take a dip in a hot spring if your shukubo happens to have one. Shukubo are dotted throughout Kyoto, Nara, and Mt. Koya in the Wakayama Prefecture.

If you're staying at a shukubo, no matter what type you choose, be sure to get up early and join the morning Buddhist service. Before an image of Buddha, the chief temple priest chants sutras, and even if you do not understand Japanese, you can still appreciate the peaceful atmosphere.

Shukubo are different from hotels and Japanese inns. In many cases, they only have the most basic items, such as yukata (light cotton kimono) and toothbrushes in the guest rooms, so it is a good idea to bring your own bath towels.

Please refer to the official website of each temple or shrine for details on how to make a reservation. The accommodation fee varies depending on the temple or shrine, but on the average, prices range from ¥8,000 to ¥10,000 without meals, and around ¥15,000 with half board.

※Prices vary depending on the period, room selected, and plan.

（2）Relax with an open-air bath overlooking the lake and the sea (Kobe Port / Shirahama / and Lake Biwa)

Whether you find accommodations at Kobe Port (left) or Shirahama (right), you’re sure to get an eyeful of views.

In the Kansai area, there is no shortage of accommodations with beautiful views. Among them are Kobe Port, an ultra-modern cityscape surrounded by the mountains and the sea; and Shirahama, a hot spring location on the southern coast of the Wakayama Prefecture and one of the leading marine resorts in western Japan.

Soak in your own private bath while taking in the expansive view of the sea.

Japanese inns are also found near Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in the Shiga Prefecture and Japan. Try booking accommodations in a Japanese inn with an open-air bath and view of the lake and sea. That way you can relish a quick dip at sunrise or wind down with a soothing swim and the glorious night sky just before bedtime.

Kobe Port at night dazzles with its brightly lit buildings and structures.

Most hotels overlook the port of Kobe, and the accommodation rates start at around ¥10,000 a night without meals and around ¥12,000 a night with breakfast in the morning. In the Shirahama area, accommodations cost around ¥20,000 for one night with two meals. Japanese inns that boast a view of Lake Biwa start at around ¥10,000 a night for a room without meals, and around ¥15,000 a night with breakfast in the morning.
※Prices vary depending on the period, room selected, and plan.

（3）Spend family time at a private hot spring or a hot spring with a family bath

A private bath in your guest room allows you and your Significant Other or family to soak in leisure.

Some Japanese inns and hotels have a private hot spring or open-air bath that you and your family or Significant Other can rent on an hourly basis. If you prefer some privacy or want to take your time, look into Japanese inns with open-air baths and luxurious indoor baths in their guest rooms. Recommended as well for families with young children, these accommodations allow you to bathe in luxury and at your own pace without being bothered by other guests. But if you still want to soak in a bath in a public facility, please note that there may be people waiting to use it after you. Be sure to stick to the time limit and don’t leave any personal belongings behind!

If a guest room has its own open-air bath or indoor bath, the accommodation fee starts from ¥20,000 with half board, and if you rent a private bath as part of the public facility, the rental fee is around ¥2,000 per hour. When making a reservation on official inn websites or reservation websites, there are special plans for families and couples that allow them to use a private bath for free.
※Prices will vary depending on the period, room selected, and plan.

Refer to the following for more information on the facilities mentioned in this article.

About Kansai luxury hotels
https://www.japan.travel/en/my/little-splurge-travel-2/

Kyoto
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/kyoto/
https://kyoto.travel/en/

Nara
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/nara/
https://www.visitnara.jp/

Shiga
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/shiga/
https://en.biwako-visitors.jp/

Hyogo
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/hyogo/
https://www.travelhyogo.org.e.aas.hp.transer.com/

Wakayama
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/wakayama/
https://en.visitwakayama.jp/

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