Yakuo-in

※ Please note that Yakuo-in takes a minimum of two guests per reservation. ——— Yakuo-in is a beautiful temple close to the peak of Mt. Takao. It is only a one-hour train ride from central Tokyo but it is a place of great serenity away from the crowded Tokyo life. The temple is part of the Shingon School of esoteric Buddhism. There, a group of monks practice the ascetic religion of “mountain-worshiping,” combining elements of Buddhism and Shintoism. There are many activities offered by the temple, one of which is meditation weekends. In addition, the hiking paths up to the mountain and the nature surrounding the temple offer a spiritual experience. Visitors can make a reservation to try out the food that priests of the temple eat while visiting the temple. This style of cuisine is called Shojin Ryori and is vegetarian, focusing on venerating all forms of life and bringing out the taste of nature.