Temple Hotel Takayama Zenkoji

The friendly, helpful staff did a lot to make us feel welcome, which made an already memorable stay even more special. The surroundings were beautiful and the facilities excellent. It was a unique experience, and I'd highly recommend it.

The staff learned we were on our honeymoon, then surprised us with a congratulatory card they'd printed and a bottle of sake. That was such a lovely welcome. We had an incredible, truly unusual stay at the temple hotel, and the service was on a level I challenge any hotel worldwide to match. We can't wait to come back someday.

Our room was uncomfortable in the below-freezing temperatures, and we spent the whole night unable to sleep. We ended up leaving our reservation early and taking the financial hit to move to a regular hotel for half the price. The lack of heating hadn't been advertised, and heated blankets weren't enough. The building has no heating system. Our room had a couple of kerosene space heaters, but their labels warn against indoor use without lots of ventilation and say to use them sparingly. They weren't suitable for overnight heating, and providing them for guest use in spaces they're not meant for felt unsafe and irresponsible. The room also bore little resemblance to the photos of rooms overlooking a garden. Ours had no clear windows, only frosted glass, and faced the parking lot. I knew the website said this wasn't a Ryokan and hadn't expected amenities. I was okay with thin walls and shared facilities, and even accepted paying for coffee pods despite Ryokan prices. But this room wasn't livable in those temperatures, and the heaters were unusable. Other rooms may be better, but guests could end up in ours while paying the same. I'd recommend staying somewhere else.

We joined the morning prayer and meditation, and had the Buddhist dinner, which was huge and the best food I've had in Japan. I'm really grateful I got to come, and hope to return for longer someday. The garden is amazing, and the place itself is beautiful and spacious. Even though it was very cold when we visited, there were plenty of things to keep us warm. The bathroom was large, and the products were really good. The staff were so kind and helpful, and seemed genuinely happy to share their beliefs and ways with us. This was the best place we stayed during our trip to Japan.