I stayed at Shojoshoin, as did kja before me. They take solo travelers. I booked through Japanese Guest Houses, as I recall.

I stayed one night in Osaka which seemed to be enough at the time. Am planning my return trip to Japan for October/ November this year and will return to Osaka for the Aquarium.

Since you are planning your trip in July keep in mind the heat and humidity, which can be very draining. I was in Tokyo beginning of October and it was hot.
My trip report.
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-to-japan.cfm

It seems that Gion Matsuri goes on for the month of July. If you can hit one of the nights that should be spectacular. I really enjoyed my one day and evening of Matsuri in Takayama

As far as a Koyasan solo visitor, there are several listings on booking.com. Also probably, haven't looked recently, some of the temples have websites in English - there is a listing here:
http://eng.shukubo.net/temple-lodging.html

When I went several years ago I was able to make a reservation directly on the temple's website where I stayed.

As a solo traveler I gave up trying japaneseguesthouses a number of years ago after they told me there is no place in Yufuin the takes a single guest...duh... ;-)

As MinnBeef noted, I stayed at Shojoshin-in, with which I was very pleased, and I booked through Japanese Guesthouses:
https://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/...n=Shojoshin-in

From what I can tell, one's selection of a temple makes a great difference to experience. While I certainly appreciate Mara's response, I'm not sure there's another way to book Shojoshin-in. The other temple on Koya-san for which I hear a lot of positive reviews is Eko-in; I have no idea whether it takes single guests or what other temples would be worth considering.

Hope that helps!

Shojoshin-in has a website - it's in Japanese but if you look through it there is a contact form as well as an email address so maybe it is possible to book directly...I didn't see any other link on the site for reservations....

Wow, Mara, that website doesn't show up on my searches, or at least, it's not in the first 4 pages of listings. :-( Could you link it in?

I found it here:
http://eng.shukubo.net/temple-lodging.html#syukubo-s
on the website I listed in my earlier post....

@ Mara: Thanks! Sorry I missed it before....

Thanks. I found that earlier, Mara. I do have a few options so far, and I have a cheaper one- Jokiin- booked just in case that I can cancel if I decide to splurge. The ones I'm interested in would definitely be a splurge given the low availability.

Thanks, Nywoman! I did see your report before and thoroughly enjoyed reading it:) I think I'm going to be able to visit during one of the parades and I'm really excited about that.


Finished a long term project and now hopefully I can focus a bit more on my planning. Not long to go at all!! Appreciate your input as always, folks!

FWIW, I thought Koya-san worthy of a splurge -- and for me, it was most definitely a serious splurge! YMMV.

If you do go to Koya-san, consider making time for some of it's incredible highlights -- and not just Okuno-in (but do make time for Okuno-in at dusk or dawn, if not both).

Congratulations on finishing your project. :-)

While I was not as enamored over Koyasan as was kja and most others before me, it somewhat had to do with a painful injury I sustained early in my spring trip. The monks at Shojosho-in were very kind, the morning prayer service was rather interesting and one other big advantage is that it sits right next to one end of the Okuno-in cemetery.

Oh, that reminds me! I think MinnBeef reported that his room at Shojoshin-in did not have a lock. I honestly don't remember whether my room did or did not, and my notes are silent about it, but I do have a vague recollection of reminding myself that I had nothing of value with me, just an overnight bag. I never felt unsafe anywhere in Japan, and don't think I would have balked at a night in a monastery with what was, at the time, a long history of essentially unanimous positive reviews. BUT if having a lock matters to you, you should by all means to a bit of investigation. Rooms at Shojoshin-in are in a variety of configurations, and so could differ from one another; mine was one of the ones without a private bath.

Thanks for the heads up, Kja! If I was planning to stay more than one night that would indeed bother me.