Natisan Shoureki-ji’s Shuku-Bo is located at the bank of Yura River that cuts across Ayabe City in the North Eastern area of Kyoto. This temple is noted as a temple of learning.
Going up the stone steps from the lane along the river, you arrive at Natisan Shoureki-ji.
The temple enshrining the statue of Kwan-Yin was founded in 942 AD by Buddhism priest Kuya-Shonin. The name of the temple was given by the Emperor Ichijo commending the efficacy of the temple’s rainmaking ritual. The statue of Kwan-yin is treated as a secret in this temple and rarely shown to the public?only once in every 33 years. This temple has many other historical/cultural assets and a Japanese rock garden that attract visitors.
In one corner of the precinct, overlooking Yura River, stands a house named Sho-Un-Kaku, which used to serve as the reception hall of the temple. Now it is turned into a Shuku-Bo and receives one group of guests per day. The house is 100 years old furnished in pure Japanese style, such as images painted on fusuma(Japanese style sliding door) or on the ceiling, or furniture having old atmosphere. Seated on a chair by the window, you can enjoy a beautiful landscape with gently flowing Yura River.
For dinner, you can choose either from Kuromine Shamo Gozen (game fowl grown in local farms in Ayabe cooked in dierent ways and served on a small dining table) or Shojin Ryori (traditional Japanese dishes brought in courses with variety of fresh vegetables of the season). For breakfast you have a choice from Washoku or Shojin Ryori.
Noted as a temple for learning, Shoureki-ji offers a variety of activities to staying guests, for them to participate and enjoy.
Not to mention Zazen, you can join mountain hiking, cold water ablution, canoeing in weekends (for a fee, minimum 4 participants), or cooking experience (a program offered to learn the significance of taking life of other creatures). In spring, you can join bamboo shoot digging or vegetables harvesting in nearby partner farms. Thus, you will experience not only the history and atmosphere of the temple, but also its entire surroundings.
“We have nothing much in this area to offer except for a country life experience away from the big cities. Maybe it is what people find interesting” says Mr. Hironobu Tamagawa, the Chief Priest of the Shoureki-ji. He hopes to make his Shuku-Bo as the center of activities in the area and staying guests will experience and learn what the rural life in this area is like.