The experiences with the temple monks (evening meditation, morning chanting) was wonderful -- visually, the sounds, the smell of incense. Our room was very large, comfortable, clean and new. The food were was delicious and beautiful.

Tap water in rooms is not drinkable; not an issue, but need a couple bottles of water in the room (can buy from vending machine down the hall.)

I'd previously stayed at Ekoin Temple a few years ago and in comparison I found Rengejoin to be much more personal and intimate. I stayed in the deluxe family suite and it was simply beautiful. Every detail was well thought through and a real joy to experience. The staff were exceptionally helpful and kind and the food was top notch. Would highly recommend this temple stay! Do note though that this temple has a 9pm curfew which means joining the night tour of the cemetery (hosted by Ekoin) is not an option.

The woman who greeted us spoke perfect English and was very friendly and helpful. The room was large, pristine and comfortable, with a beautiful view on the garden. The grounds all around were beautiful. We had a private toilet but a public bath, which made for an authentic Japanese experience. Everything was impeccably clean.

The room was nice and warm but the hallways and public spaces were cold during early November. The meals were served on small trays and we sat on the floor on cushions. Again, a very authentic Japanese experience but not physically comfortable for everyone.

- Beautiful Place with a very authentic and relaxing ambiance. It's not a hotel but a Temple in which you are staying. - Beautiful room with wonderful view on garden. The room was a work of art on its own. - Private Toilet available in the room. - Free WiFi. - Nice Breakfast and Dinner included. Both were vegetarian but tasty nevertheless. - Clean rooms. - Airconditioning. - Wonderful meditation sessions you can have together with monks.

- Shared bathroom, which was only accessible in the evening within a timeframe of 3 hours. This is no biggy in a way, but it's something to keep in mind and plan around. - Curfew; at 21:00 in the evening the outside doors are closed & locked and you won't be able to get in. This is something to keep in mind as well. In the area they organize evening-tours, and you need to explain to those tour guides that you have to be back at the latest at 21:00. - The curfew also applies inside the Temple, and you are requested to be quiet after 21:00. - You can hear other guests walking and talking in the hallway outside of the room. The previous point on the curfew helps ensure this is not an issue though after 21:00. - The pillow requires getting used to. It's very hard on one side.

I highly recommend for anyone who wishes to experience an unforgettable night in a calm and fascinating buddhist temple. The dinner and breakfast is a stunning art and so is the interior and exterior ofvthe temple. I participated at the meditation and chanting with the local buddhist monks, something I will never forget.

The temple is situated a bit further from the Okunoin cemetery so I needed to take a bus. You need to get back before 9.00 p.m. otherwise you won't be able to get back. It is a temple, not a hotel, there's need to bear this in mind. I recommend booking months in advance otherwise the price could be like ten times more than what I paid.

Everything. The food was delicious and the room was beautiful. We shared the bathroom but it was not a problem. It was an authentic experience having to bathe with other people (same gender). The place was tranquil and beautiful. We knew what to expect because we read a lot of comments. We brought little baggage so we can carry our suitcase without rolling it. We also bought snacks at the Family Mart in case the dinner didn't fill us up. We slept early to be able to attend the chanting session at 6:00 am Everyone was very nice and spoke good English. We didn't leave at night so we had 0 issues with the curfew. We're very flexible travellers and not fuzzy at all. So we enjoyed our time there. We also found a sale, so we paid 150 USD for a night for the room. So we felt very happy with the service for the price

Nothing. We loved everything

The temple is well set up to receiving international guests and many of the employees spoke English well. The room was gorgeous with calligraphy decorations on the walls, and the shared toilets and bathing area were clean and tidy. The gardens surrounding the building are beautiful, the meals were quite nice and the highlight were the evening meditation and morning chanting. That is what you’re really paying for here, to be allowed into the practices of the temple.

Due to the traditional architecture the walls are literally paper thin, so at night you will hear every word or rustle of your neighbors. The light from the hallways is also kept on at night and filters in through the paper screen doors, so bring earplugs and a sleeping mask and you’ll be fine. There’s nothing otherwise that can be done if you want to stay in a traditional building like this. For one night it’s OK. Also take note of the 9pm curfew.

This temple was further back away from the others so there were less people 'visiting' to check it out. Smaller than other temples in town so it was one of two that I could book very last minute. The monks made me feel very welcome, explained rules, gave a tour of facilities, answered questions. Not all monks spoke english but the intake people did. Attending evening meditation and morning prayers was cool. There were seats so I didn't have to stress my bad knee. Breakfast and dinner were simple vegetarian meals sitting on the floor on a pillow in a shared space with others. Times are early, maybe 6-7am for breakfast, 5-6pm for dinner. Snooze ya lose, if you're too late they don't 'save' it for you. There are a couple small places to eat in town. The shared onsen was small with a strict time set for when it was open for bathing in evening. Open area with a couple sinks to wash up that you share with others. Everything is separated for women and men. The grounds are beautiful especially in fall with autumn leaves surrounding the traditional gardens. The 'traditional pilgrimage' room (shukobo) I booked was sparse and simple with a small table and futon. Great view of giant red maple(?) tree from my room. The futon was surprisingly comfortable!! Thicker than I expected, something I was worried about as a side sleeper. Lots of layered blankets to stay warm in late fall. There are other rooms you can get that have western style beds, not sure if there are better walls or additional amenities but that's an option. I also paid a couple yen to do the (poem? prayer?) transcription which was quite relaxing. All in all a great last minute addition to my stay in Japan and one of my favorite experiences.

Not the fault of the temple. Because the simple 'pilgrimage' rooms shared thin sliding screen type 'walls' to separate the rooms, you could hear others. Noise wasn't a problem from other rooms but one ding dong next to me had a full on phone and video conference call to have a meeting discussing his company. Why are you here??? Go away! Was annoying and killed the vibe. Again, not the fault of the temple that one visitor was a doofus.

The temple as a whole is gorgeous. The monks hosting us were very kind and welcoming. They thoroughly explained all the amenities in our room. The room itself was spacious, beautiful and comfortable, with a view on the garden. The place is calm, bringing lots of serenity, and allowed us to rest from our trip. Even though there is wifi, it was an amazing way to disconnect mentally and physically. We had the chance to attend two ceremonies with the monks, granting us the possibility to see how they function and live. The dinner was fulfilling and delicious, as well as the breakfast.

The only thing would have been to stay longer, one night was not enough!

Koyasan village itself is a magic place, so highly recommended to visit while you are in Japan! A temple stay in Rengejoin was something absolutely unique that gave me an unforgettable opportunity to experience the modern temple life from inside and even participate into the meditation and praying sessions. Beautiful traditional rooms, very tasty vegan dinner and breakfast, small onsen to relax on evening, a stunning inside garden you might just watch and meditate for hours, very harmonious architecture, peaceful and loving atmosphere, very welcoming staff.. Highly recommended!

nothing really