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NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 57

JAPAN’S BUDDHIST
Tokyo, Japan -- The words
“spiritual” and “spartan” are not
often used to describe properties
listed on Airbnb. They are, however, TEMPLES TO OFFER
more likely to crop up following
the launch of a service devoted ROOMS TO RENT
to providing accommodation in
AFTER LAW CHANGE
temples across Japan.

Terahaku aims to become the
Airbnb of temples when it starts By Danielle Demetriou , The Telegrraph, 28 May 2018
operating this summer, with
the goal of offering visitors the
opportunity to sleep overnight in
Buddhist establishments.

Until now, a small number of
Japanese temples have offered
accommodation known as shukubo,
typically including a place to sleep
and vegetarian Buddhist cuisine,
mostly targeting pilgrims or
adventurous tourists.

However, Japan’s 77,000 nationwide
temples have been restricted by
laws from marketing themselves
as commercial accommodation, a Kyoto – with plans to boost this to A record number of tourists are
situation that will change with new 1,000 in three years. holidaying in Japan, with nearly
legislation relating to residential 28.7 million visiting in 2017 and the
lodging from June 15. In addition to offering government apparently on track to
Terahaku, the brainchild of an accommodation, many temples will hit its target of 40 million visitors
Osaka-based tourism company offer a unique cultural insight into by 2020.
called Waqoo Co, will enable users Buddhist life, with some offering
to book stays in temples at the guests the chance to try zazen The government is reportedly keen
click of a button, via computers or meditation, sutra writing or attend for visitors to tap into alternative
smartphones. early morning prayers as well as forms of accommodation, according
sample Buddhist cuisine. to Reuters – including love hotels –
The company has formed in a bid to limit room shortages.
partnerships with Airbnb and “Terahaku aims to help tourists
Booking.com so users can research understand traditional Japanese The accommodation website
listings and make reservations in culture and history,” a Waqoo Booking.com has reportedly seen
English, with nightly rates expected spokesperson told the Telegraph. love hotel bookings rise 48 per
to range from around 10,000- cent in the past year and expects
20,000 yen (£70-£140). Terahaku is one of a raft of the trend to continue as the 2019
accommodation innovations that Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo
Around 100 temples will feature have emerged in Japan in recent Olympics approach. EH
on the site when it launches in years, in response to the nation’s
July - including Mii-dera, a famous widely reported shortage of beds Source: Buddhist Channel www.
Buddhist complex dating back to in the run up to the 2020 Tokyo buddhistchannel.tv
the seventh century, not far from Olympics.