A hotel that has been combined with an old Buddhist temple is set to open in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on Monday, in what could be an example of how temples facing a dwindling number of parishioners can survive.
At the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji, guests can take part in distinctive activities such as sutra copying and participating in morning prayers, according to the hotel operator. The hotel portion of the building was constructed on the Jokyoji temple's premises and is leased through real estate giant Mitsui Fudosan Co., whose group company will oversee its operation. The temple is housed on the building's first floor.
Jokyoji temple belongs to the Jodo sect of Buddhism and boasts a long history. It was moved to its current location in 1591 when the area's ruler at the time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, reorganized all of central Kyoto's temples.
However, the temple had been struggling to stay in operation as its number of parishioners had declined to only about 100 and its main building was deteriorating.
Koki Mitsuyama, the temple's chief priest, made the decision to integrate the temple with a hotel after being introduced to Mitsui Fudosan by the bank he consulted with.
The 9-story hotel has 167 guest rooms and its lobby is also located on the first floor, separated from the temple by a 60-centimeter-long, 2-meter-wide window, which allows visitors a glimpse of the temple's main hall interior.
The walls of the lobby will be adorned with a decorative design used on the beams of the old main hall.
According to Mitsuyama, the parishioners are also happy with the temple's state-of-the-art facility.
"At a time when every temple is struggling to remain in operation, I think [our building] will create quite a stir," he said.
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