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TempleStaysSyojinRyoriHISTORY&CULTURETaiy¯ojiTemple(ChichibuCity,SaitamaPrefecture)aAnisolatedBuddhisttem-plelodging,convenientlylocatednearTokyo,withadeepfocusonspiritualpeace,zazentraining,andnaturalrefreshment.traditionalaccoutrementstohelpthetravelerescapethetrappingsofmodernlife.Theav-eragerateforatemplestayis8,000-12,000yenpernight,includingdinnerandbreakfast.Taiy¯ojiisashortdistancefromTokyo.Thesceneryisunobstructedbytheskyscrap-ersofneighboringTokyoand,instead,en-compassestoweringtrees,mountains,andrivers.Thetempleispopularwithvisitors,includingsolotravelers,becausecommunalactivitiesandroomsharingaregreatwaystomakenewfriends!Asoakintheoutdoorbath—ablanketofstarsoverheadinaclearnightsky—completesthetemplestay.29Shukubo(TempleStays)宿坊aTempleStaysinJapan:SurroundedbyPeaceandTranquillityTemplestays,orshukub¯o,arelodgingex-periencesofferedbyBuddhisttemplestoallowpilgrimsandtravelersatasteoftheno-frillslifestyleofmonks.Famousdestinationsforshukub¯oincludeMountK¯oyainWakaya-ma,Zenk¯oji(Zenk¯oTemple)inNagano,andTaiy¯oji(Taiy¯oTemple)inSaitama.Oncedifculttoaccess,manylocationsnowhavemonkswhoareusedtoforeigntouristsandcanconverseinvariouslanguages.Shukub¯oactivitiesconsistofdevotionalex-ercisesdesignedtosharpenthemindandprovideahigherlevelofunderstandingandintuition.Copyingsutrasbyhand,practicingzazen(seatedZenmeditation),andrecitingchantsarecommonpractices.Templesareoftenlocateddeepwithinnatureandhave