Koyasan shukubo, English?

I feel really tempted to book a night at a shukubo in Koyasan but I am not very good in Japanese. I know some standard phrases but in case of dinner and breakfast at the temple or meeting staff, could this be a problem now knowing too much Japanese? I suppose they speak no English in there :O

It depends on which temple but usually enough English is spoken.

Enjoy your trip!

I stayed there last summer (at Henjoko-in) as a solo traveller. I have little to no Japanese, and the monks I met equally had little to no English. But we all figured it out when needed with a bit of play-acting, smiles and willingness to try. You'll be fine, honestly - but it doesn't hurt to have a phrasebook in your luggage.

Thanks!

GC3,
You wouldnt know any recommended temple that know some or little English at least? If you know I mean.

You wouldnt know any recommended temple that know some or little English at least? If you know I mean.

Obviously it depends which monks you meet, here's a couple to get you started:-

Ichijoin
http://www.japanican.com/hotels/review.aspx?st=6416020#shisetsumenu

Henjokoin
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g1121341-d1124563-r11051...

Rengojoin
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/mount_koya/rengejoin.htm

You could also ask the staff at Japaneseguesthouses and they may be able to suggest one for you if English is a priority for you.

Lovely, lovely. Thanks a lot GC3, really helped me a million :D

Muryoko-in is also known to take care of guests in English. There is a monk from Switzerland at the temple who speaks English, French and Germany. He is very talkative and explains a lot about Buddhism.

http://www.kumano-travel.com/index/en/action_ContentsDetail_Detail/id1...

Nan-in doesn't have much English speakers, but they have do have English language explanation sheets at the temple.

http://www.kumano-travel.com/index/en/action_ContentsDetail_Detail/id1...

Fudo-in hosts many international guests as well. Interestingly it is really popular with airline staff, who spend their down time here between international flights from Kansai airport. So many repeat visitors.

http://www.kumano-travel.com/index/en/action_ContentsDetail_Detail/id1...

But even if you do not speak that much Japanese if you are aware of your surroundings and follow what other guests do you should be fine at many of the temple in Koyasan.