Fuchinobo

The morning prayer was the best part for me. I believe it’s mandatory and takes place at sunrise. You hear a short history of Zenkoji and its architecture, bow to the priest as he arrives, listen to the prayers, then walk through a dark passage beneath the temple. For an extra 5000 yen, they’ll say your name and pray for you, and you’re brought up to the stage. You receive a paper souvenir and charm, and an English guide is provided. Fuchinobo also offers sutra copying on the day you arrive: light incense and copy characters before a Buddha statue in a private prayer room. Taking the paper home makes a lovely souvenir. They’ll also write a seal in your personal notebook, which doesn’t have to be a goshuincho. Staying at a temple along this road seems the best way to spend a day or night at Zenkoji, since they offer and guide you through Buddhist activities. I was surprised at how clean and well-kept the place was. The shared bathroom on the floor was spotless, with automatic western toilets and even a sensor faucet. The public bath looked recently renovated, with the cleanest tiles I’ve ever seen.