If you are spending the night on Mount Koya, you will need a place to rest your Tiny Hippo

While there aren’t any hotels on the mountain, there are shukubos which are temple lodgings run by monks. This was our shukubo: Koyasan Onsen Fukuchiin

We enjoyed the tradition architecture complete with tatami mats and shoji doors

The meticulously designed gardens were a thing of beauty

Just be careful where you tread, only the leaves are allowed to venture onto the intricate patterns

Koyasan Onsen Fukuchiin was the only lodging on the mountain that had its own hot spring for bathing, as it would be indecent for me to photograph such things, here is the koi pond

As evening falls, you may wish to expand your mind with the teachings of the enlightened one

The vegetarian feast provided by the monks is served in your room. Some of the dishes come with their own fire to keep them toasty warm

Each dish holds new surprises for the adventurous Tiny Hippo

Don’t worry though, it is all delicious!

I left my wonderful temple lodging in Koyason relaxed and rejuvenated. Onward to Kyoto!