Traditional Japanese Rooms Surrounded by Nature
All guest rooms at Shokinkan are designed in a traditional Japanese style. Spacious rooms ranging from 10 to 14 tatami mats are available, as well as smaller, more intimate rooms of approximately 4.5 to 6 tatami mats, making it possible to choose a space according to the number of guests.
From the windows, guests can enjoy views of the approach to Kiyomizu-dera and carefully maintained gardens. The scenery changes with the seasons, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of the surrounding mountains and temple grounds from the comfort of their room.
During the day, the gentle sounds of birds and the wind create a relaxing atmosphere. After dark, the lamps along the temple approach create an enchanting scene. Even on rainy days, the stone-paved approach takes on a particularly atmospheric appearance, adding to the charm and tranquility of this mountain temple.
Spending time in such peaceful surroundings provides a welcome opportunity to forget the routines of everyday life and enjoy a slower pace.
Traditional Shojin Ryori Passed Down Through Generations
One of Shokinkan’s greatest attractions is its traditional shojin ryori, which has been passed down through generations. The sixth-generation owner, who trained at a long-established traditional restaurant in Kyoto, combines time-honored techniques with new ideas while preserving the distinctive character of the cuisine.
Shojin ryori is Buddhist vegetarian cuisine based on Buddhist teachings. Meat, fish, eggs, garlic, green onions, and other ingredients are traditionally avoided, while vegetables, beans, grains, and wild mountain plants form the foundation of the dishes.
At Shokinkan, the natural flavors of each ingredient are carefully brought out through cooking techniques and flavorful broth. The result is a refined cuisine that demonstrates how much depth and variety can be created from plant-based ingredients.
Creative Vegetarian Dishes Inspired by Familiar Foods
One of the most popular dishes is “unagi modoki,” or mock eel, made primarily from soybeans. Its appearance, texture, and fragrant sauce are designed to resemble grilled eel, offering an interesting example of the creativity and skill behind shojin ryori.
Another specialty is “ika modoki,” or mock squid, made using ingredients such as bracken starch. These dishes allow diners to discover how familiar foods can be recreated using completely different plant-based ingredients.
Seasonal Flavors for Dinner and Breakfast
Dinner features seasonal local ingredients and allows guests to enjoy flavors that change throughout the year. In addition to creative shojin ryori centered on vegetables and mountain plants, Shokinkan also offers kaiseki-style meals featuring Shimane Wagyu beef and seafood from the Sea of Japan, providing options for different tastes.
Meals can be enjoyed privately in the guest rooms, creating a relaxed setting for an unhurried dining experience. Breakfast is a gentle Japanese-style meal featuring dishes such as grilled fish and a variety of small side dishes, providing a well-balanced start to the day.
Enjoying breakfast while breathing in the clear morning air around the mountain temple is a particularly memorable part of an overnight stay.
Kiyomizu-dera Surrounded by Flowers in Every Season
The grounds of Kiyomizu-dera are filled with seasonal flowers throughout the year. In spring, mitsumata, cherry blossoms, and kerria roses add color to the temple grounds. Early summer brings azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.
In summer, shara trees and water lilies create a quiet and elegant atmosphere. When autumn arrives, the maple trees along the temple approach turn brilliant shades of red and orange.
The autumn foliage is especially impressive, drawing many visitors to the temple. The entire grounds can become covered in vivid red and yellow leaves, creating spectacular scenery. In late autumn, fallen ginkgo leaves form a golden carpet along the approach, offering another beautiful seasonal sight.
A Stay Combined with the History of Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is a Tendai Buddhist temple traditionally said to have been founded in 587 by the monk Sonryu. It has long been worshipped as a temple associated with protection from misfortune.
The extensive temple grounds contain numerous historic buildings, including Konpon-do, the Main Hall, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
One of the most distinctive structures is the approximately 33-meter-high three-story pagoda. Described as a rare wooden tahoto-style pagoda in the San’in region, it is one of the symbolic landmarks of the temple grounds. Visitors can enter and climb the tower, and on clear days can enjoy views over Yasugi and the surrounding mountains.
Experience the Temple in the Quiet of the Morning
Guests staying at Shokinkan can take advantage of the peaceful early-morning atmosphere to explore the temple grounds. Depending on the schedule, visitors may also have opportunities to experience zazen meditation or shakyo, the traditional practice of hand-copying Buddhist sutras.
Combining an overnight stay with a visit to the historic temple allows travelers to experience not only Japanese architecture and cuisine, but also a quieter cultural atmosphere in which history and nature exist side by side.
A Convenient Base for Exploring Yasugi
Shokinkan is relatively easy to reach by car, approximately 15 minutes from the Yonago-Nishi Interchange on the San’in Expressway. It is also about 15 minutes by bus from JR Yasugi Station.
The inn is approximately 15 minutes by car from the Adachi Museum of Art, internationally known for its beautiful Japanese gardens, making Shokinkan a convenient base for exploring the attractions of Yasugi and the surrounding area.
A Peaceful Stay in a Historic Mountain Temple
Located within the historic grounds of Kiyomizu-dera, Shokinkan offers a distinctive Japanese travel experience combining traditional architecture, seasonal scenery, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and the tranquility of a mountain temple.
For travelers seeking more than a typical sightseeing trip, staying at this long-established ryokan provides an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the atmosphere of historic Japan. After exploring Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding area, guests can return to the quiet inn, enjoy a traditional meal, and experience the changing scenery of the temple grounds from season to season.