A closer look

Paying premium rates to be woken up at 6:00 AM by chanting monks is the ultimate spiritually cleansing paradox. Mount Koya is the ancient, forested center of Shingon Buddhism, and booking a Shukubo (temple lodging) strips away modern distractions. Guests observe the mesmerizing goma fire ritual meant to destroy negative energies, before dining on meticulously prepared root vegetables and tofu that take hours to craft, proving that true monastic discipline is profoundly delicious.