Zenkoji Experience Tour with Overnight 'Shukubo' Temple Lodging Stay
- Enjoy an overnight stay at a historic ‘shukubo’ (temple lodging) inside Nagano’s near-1,400 year-old Zenko-ji complex, including traditional vegetarian dinner and breakfast
- Learn the history of the temple along with its centrality to the story of Nagano and Japanese Buddhist beliefs with a private guided walking tour of Zenko-ji including a private ‘goma’ prayer fire ceremony
- Indulge in Nagano’s traditional vegetarian food culture including its famous ‘oyaki’ dumplings, ‘shichimi’ seven spice, and award-winning ‘sake.’
- All guided by a locally-based, English-speaking guide
Options
Zenkoji Experience Tour
Inclusions
Admission to: 'Goma' Prayer Fire Ceremony
English-speaking guide
Breakfast
Dinner
1-night accommodation at a ‘shukubo’ temple lodging
Simple lunch of two oyaki, 12-14g can of ‘Shichimi’ / ‘7 Spice’ (per guest) and a guided ‘sake’ tasting at Yoshinoya.
Exclusions
Admission to other paid attractions at Zenko-ji (O-Asaji, Kaidan Meguri, Sanmon, etc.)
Other personal expenses
Transport fees inc. Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ to/from Nagano City
Additional Info
Participants must be aged 6+ to participate in this activity
Children aged 13+ will be charged the same rate as adults
This tour includes accommodation at a traditional ‘shukubo’ (temple lodging) within the Zenko-ji temple complex. The tour price includes a ‘Standard Japanese-style Room’ featuring on-floor ‘futon’ bedding, ‘tatami’ matting and low furniture. Toilet and bathing facilities are shared, and the ‘shukubo’ kindly requests that guests use the bathing facility between 17:00-20:00. Earliest check-in is at 15:00 and check-out is by 11:00. Dinner is served at 18:00 while breakfast is served between 07:30 to 09:00. In-keeping with the practice of most ‘shukubo’, we kindly ask that guests return back to the accommodation for the evening by 20:00. Thank you for your understanding.
Guests have the option of attending Zenko-ji's 'O-Asaji' morning service the following morning. Conducted in the temple's main hall - only a moments' walk away from your temple lodging - the morning service takes place at sunrise - from 6:30-7:30 (time subject to change depending on the time of the year).
As a walking tour, you will need to carry your luggage until we pass your accommodation, where we can drop it off around 1 hour into the tour. However, you should not have to carry it for more than 10 minutes at a time and it can be placed aside while at Saiko-ji Temple, Ogawa-no-Sho, and Yawataya Isogoro. Should this be of concern, or you are unable to carry your luggage for that length of time, please let us know and we see if we can arrange for it to be transported directly to your accommodation. Unneeded luggage can also be stored within lockers located within Nagano Station.
The tour includes dinner and breakfast at your ‘shukubo’ temple lodging. It serves a traditional vegetarian menu for both meals. Alcohol is available but not included in the tour price. Should you wish to drink alcohol, please pay the accommodation directly.
This activity is not stroller and wheelchair-accessible
What's included in Zenkoji Experience Tour with Overnight 'Shukubo' Temple Lodging Stay
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Day 1
- [Departure] 12:15, meet up at Nagano Station. Meetup with your guide inside Nagano Station - they will be waiting for you in front of the large Information Board directly across the Shinkansen / 'Bullet Train' ticket gates.Latecomers or no-shows can't be refunded Please arrive at the location 10 mins before the departure time
- [Attraction/experience] 12:30, 10 min(s), Guided tour, Saiko-ji Temple
- [Dining] 12:55, Lunch, Ogawanoshodaimonten, Enjoy a simple lunch of 'oyaki' at Ogawa-no-sho followed by a stop at Yawataya Isogoro, Nagano's famous '7 Spice' store.
- [Attraction/experience] 13:30, 2 hour(s), Guided tour, Zenkoji Temple, After dropping-off your luggage at the 'Shukubo,' experience a private 'goma' prayer fire ceremony. Afterward, you will begin your detailed guided tour of Zenko-ji Temple.
- [Attraction/experience] 15:30, 30 min(s), Guided tour, Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Sake Brewery, Enjoy a guided 'sake' tasting experience at nearby Yoshinoya - one of Nagano's oldest and most renowned breweries - along with sample of their acclaimed 'miso', 'tsukemono' and other traditional food.
- [Accommodation] 16:00, 良性院; Check-in at your 'shukubo', where your guide will say their goodbyes, leaving you to enjoy your night, including dinner (18:00) and breakfast the following day (between 07:30 and 09:00).
- [Dining] 18:00, Dinner
Day 2
- [Attraction/experience] 06:30, Self-guided, O-Asaji, Guests have the option to attend the 'O-Asaji' morning service - conducted in the temple's main hall.
- [Dining] 08:00, Breakfast
- [Return] 11:00, Shuttle included
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Designed to provide guests with an intimate yet entertaining understanding of Nagano’s near-1,400 year-old Zenko-ji temple, this half-day group tour combines an in-depth guided experience at the temple including a private ‘goma’ prayer fire ceremony and an exploration of the region’s food culture and renowned ‘sake’ with an overnight stay at a traditional ‘shukubo’ (temple lodging).
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Venues
- Nagano
