Shukubo - should or should not?

These are known as lodgings in a Buddhist Temple.
Okay, I should have entitled these as Temple Lodgings so as not to make people scratch their heads (unless they are monks in Japan and surfing the internet and happen to pass by this innocuous post).

Hmmm.. probably similar to a ryokan except..well..that it is in a Buddhist temple :-)

But vegetarians may like it because that is what they will serve you for meals.

There's an early morning service (probably 6 am or earlier *gasp*).
If you are not required to join, then good, get a few more good winks in.
But some actually require you to join...

Price ranges: USD 67 to USD 140 per person but that includes meals so not too shabby.

Hope I can try this out if I can make it to Mount Koya...though the 6 am ritual is making me think twice as I generally like to laze around during mornings.

picture from the internet

Shucks, the above picture looks like sumptuous lodgings! for a temple I mean..ehem..

Japan Ryokan Association 社団法人 国際観光旅館連盟

http://www.ryokan.or.jp/index_en.html
Ryokans developed during the Edo Period when feudal lords were required to travel to and fro from Edo (known as Tokyo nowadays).

Traditionally - ryokans are small, only 1 to 2 stories high, contain about 10 to 30 rooms and are made of wood and a tile roof.

Rates in a ryokan are per person rather than per room and usually include breakfast and dinner.

As I usually go for the traditional way (when in Rome...blah-blah), you may find the following w/c I consider fine to be cons when thinking of trying a ryokan:

- if you are not used to sitting on the floor,
then its going to be a bummer for you...yoga position anyone?

- the futon is put away during the day
(but you can always roll on the tatami-covered floor if you miss your futon)

- older ryokans may have only Japanese style toilets

- Japanese-style breakfast is served
(but some ryokans do offer Western-style ones)

- rigid schedule: check-in usually is by 3 pm (if you do arrive earlier, they will keep your luggage for you),
have your dinner around 6 or 7 pm,
breakfast served early (7 to 9 am probably) and
checkout by 10 am (or leave because they clean it by that time).
So you can't sleep in.

Tip: make a reservation if you want to stay in a good ryokan.
You can try your friendly travel agency or contact the ryokan directly (some of them have informative websites, and in English too).

I've heard that some ryokans do not take foreigners (probably because of some bad experience *shrug*) but there are a lot already out there that you may want to experience.

Welcome Inn Reservation Center (WIRC) | Japan Hotels, Ryokan and inn Online Reservation

http://www.itcj.jp/eng/index.php
For budget accomodations, members of the Welcome Inn w/c operate in cooperation with the Japan National Tourist Organization.

Includes Japanese inns, business hotels etc. with rates of USD 76 or less (for single) and USD 124 or less for a double. You are asked to guarantee your reservation with your credit card details.

Japanese Inn Group Home Page | Traditional Ryokans, Hostels, Hotels, Backpackers, B&B, and Guest Houses in Japan

http://japaneseinngroup.com/
This is a special organization of more than 80 Japanese-style inns and hotels in Japan offering inexpensive lodgings and catering usually to foreigners.

Note: some may call themselves ryokans but its not exactly true in the strictest sense of the word - well, if they were, you'd be paying a lot because the true ryokan would have the trademark personalized service and beautiful setting you would expect from a ryokan.

[Rakuten Travel] Japan's Hotel and Ryokan reservation mega site

http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/index.html

JR Hotel Group Website

http://www.jrhotelgroup.com/eng/index.htm
50 or more so hotels are members of the Japan Railways Group...

almost always located near to major train stations

discounts (on the average..10%) for holders of the Japan Rail Pass

GUEST HOUSE Yougendo

http://yougendo.com/
Recommended by Hana-chan from her previous trip to Osaka

Japan Youth Hostels, Inc.

http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html
Youth Hostels are reasonable, costing about JPY 3,500 per day including 2 meals and can be reserved in advance.

However there are usually restrictions such as a 10 pm curfew, early breakfast time etc. Rooms also have bunk beds or futons, affording little privacy.

But this is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, type of accommodation in Japan.

No age limit (hehe..you might think only youths are accepted), but while most of them require a youth hostel membership card from the Japan Youth Hostel Association, they do let foreigners stay without one at no extra charge...or probably JPY 600 extra per night.

Fuji-Hakone Guesthouse Site

http://www.fujihakone.com
For the budget traveler to Hakone though its a bit isolated.

A Japanese Inn Group member offers inexpensive and clean lodging in tatami rooms, all non-smoking.

Listed in both Frommer's and Lonely Planet.
Listed in JNTO Hakone brochure.
A Welcome Inn Member.

Listed are:
Fuji-Hakone Guest House and..
Moto-Hakone Guest House

HAKONE ICHINOYU GROUP

http://english.ichinoyu.co.jp/index.html
One of their hotels/ryokans was a recommended place to stay in Hakone (aside from the famous Fujiya Hotel) which will not make your wallet weep but is still a ryokan (think "old").

There I was ready to reserve and look for a room when I read from a review that single accommodations are not accepted. *sigh*

The ryokan has only tatami rooms. The oldest date from the Meiji period. Located near Tonosawa Station, this is next to a roaring river and stands on a tree-shaded winding road that follows the track of the old Tokaido Highway. It claims to be the oldest ryokan in the area and was once honored by the visit of an Edo period shogun.