Getting Here
Shōganji Zen Retreat is located in tiny Ojuki Village, part of the fishing village cluster called Saganoseki, just east of the city of Oita, in Oita prefecture, on Kyushu island, the southernmost large island of Japan.
The red arrow marks Shōganji Zen Retreat on the map below. Use the map controls to zoom in or out, or drag to view the surrounding area.
At a glance
- Closest train station: Kōzaki station (near Oita), about 25-30 minutes by train from Oita station.
- Closest airports: Oita (OIT), mainly domestic flights, and Fukuoka (FUK), an international hub.
- Arrival and check-in: 8:00-11:00, 12:30-17:00 or 18:30-20:00 (8-11am, 12:30-5pm or 6:30-8pm). Please avoid meal times (11:00-12:30 and 17:00-18:30). No check-in before 8:00. Please plan to arrive by 20:00. If you are delayed on the day, 21:00 (9pm) is the hard limit: please do not call or come to the retreat after 21:00. Please plan your travel around these times.
- On arrival: call Jiho from Kōzaki station and we will come and pick you up.
- Language: no Japanese is needed. Jiho speaks good everyday English, and all activities with guests are in English.
By air
Shopping for flights: it is a good idea to check flights into Oita, Fukuoka, Tokyo and Osaka. Weigh the airfare and travel time against the cost of getting from your arrival city to Kōzaki station, plus any hotel night along the way. It can work out cheaper to fly internationally into a major city and then book the domestic leg separately, by plane or by train, since airlines and booking sites do not always offer the best price on the domestic leg. Third-party, multi-airline search engines can help.
Oita Airport (OIT)
Oita airport is the closest to the retreat, but it is mainly a domestic airport, so it suits you best when you are coming from elsewhere in Japan. The airport is quite far from Oita city and has no train line.
Total travel time: about 1.5-2 hours. Take the bus from the airport to Oita station (60-75 minutes, about ¥1,600), then the train to Kōzaki station (about 25-30 minutes).
Fukuoka Airport (FUK)
Fukuoka is a little-known international hub with good connections from many countries in Asia and beyond. If your main destination in Japan is the retreat or Kyushu, we strongly suggest searching for flights into Fukuoka. It is often quicker and cheaper than arriving via Tokyo or Osaka, which are much further away.
Total travel time: about 2.5-3.5 hours. Buses and trains run frequently during the day, so there is generally no need to book in advance.
- Option 1, bus: take the direct bus from Fukuoka airport to Oita station (about 2 hours), then the train to Kōzaki station (about 25-30 minutes).
- Option 2, train all the way: take the subway from the airport to Hakata station (central Fukuoka), then a train towards Oita. You will usually change trains in Oita for the local train to Kōzaki. Choose this if you would like to spend some time in Fukuoka or prefer not to take the bus.
- Arriving late? If you need to spend the night in Fukuoka, stay near Hakata station. Hotels there are reasonably priced, with plenty of places to eat and shop.
Via Tokyo or Osaka
Many visitors, especially from the west, enter Japan through Tokyo. This works well if you want to spend time there, or travel by train and stop at places of interest on the way to the retreat. If the retreat is your only destination in Japan, we suggest flying into Fukuoka or Oita instead.
- By train: about 6-8 hours from Tokyo (roughly ¥27,000 one way) and about 5 hours from Osaka. There are trains throughout the day and tickets can generally be bought on the day.
- By air: there are flights from both of Tokyo’s airports, and from Osaka, to Oita and Fukuoka. Budget airlines such as Jetstar can be much cheaper than the train, but fares vary a lot and flights fill up at short notice. JAL and ANA have more flights, at a cost similar to or higher than the train. This page lists Japan’s domestic airlines.
- Watch out for airport changes: Tokyo and Osaka each have two main airports, and changing between them is a hassle. Arrive and depart from the same airport, especially if your flights are on the same day.
By train
All train tickets in Japan can generally be bought on the day of travel, so you do not need to book in advance. Trains run frequently throughout the day and station staff will advise you on the most efficient route. The exception is major holidays such as Golden Week, when it may be worth buying tickets a few days ahead.
Should you get a Japan Rail Pass? A rail pass is not particularly useful during your time at the retreat, especially on longer stays. Most outings are by car with Jiho, and local train trips are short. It may be useful for the rest of your travels in Japan. A rail pass gives the best value when you are making frequent long-distance train journeys around the country, not when you are staying mostly in one place. Compare the price of your planned journeys at regular fares before you buy one.
Arriving at Kōzaki station
We prefer to come and pick guests up at Kōzaki station, and we generally do so, but occasionally we may not be able to. Please let us know roughly when you expect to arrive at Kōzaki so we can be ready.
You must call from Kōzaki station when you arrive. We do not wait at the station based on predicted arrival times; we come and get you once we know you are actually there. Call Jiho at 097 575 2150 or 090 9496 0648 from the payphone in the parking lot outside Kōzaki station.
Occasionally we may ask you to take a taxi from Kōzaki to the retreat. This costs about ¥1,500 and only happens if no one is available to collect you. Have a copy of the retreat’s business card to show the driver; you will find it, with other arrival information for confirmed guests, on the Arrival Day at the Retreat page.
There is not much around Kōzaki station, a very small rural station in a tiny village, so you will not want to wait there long. Keep our phone numbers with you at all times in case of changes or delays. Please use them only to arrange pickup or during your stay; for general questions before you arrive, please email us.
Most importantly, don’t worry about having every detail of your pickup settled beforehand. Make sure you have the phone numbers, ask the friendly locals if you need help, and enjoy the adventure. This is Japan.
Check-in and check-out: arrival and check-in times are 8:00-11:00, 12:30-17:00 or 18:30-20:00 (8-11am, 12:30-5pm or 6:30-8pm). Please avoid meal times (11:00-12:30 and 17:00-18:30). No check-in before 8:00. Please plan to arrive by 20:00. If you are delayed on the day, 21:00 (9pm) is the hard limit: please do not call or come to the retreat after 21:00. Check-out is any time before 20:00 on your final day. Plan your itinerary so you reach the retreat before 20:00. If you are delayed on the day, for example by a missed train, call Jiho: we can still receive you until 21:00 (9pm) at the latest. After that you will need a hotel for the night. If your best flight arrives too late, get in touch and I can help you make the most of a stopover. Full details, including what to do if you are delayed, are on the Arrival Day at the Retreat page. Please read and print it before you travel.
Getting around once you are settled: it is about an hour’s walk between the retreat and Kōzaki station, and there is also a local bus. The walking route, map and bus timetables are on the Orientation page.
Finding all this a little confusing? That is to be expected, as the retreat is off the tourist trail. The best way to travel depends on your priorities (time, cost, comfort) and where else you plan to go in Japan. If you would like detailed, personalized travel planning help, we can arrange a live video session. While video sessions are a paid service, we are happy to answer all of your questions by email free of charge.
For pickup or help once you are in Japan, call Jiho at 097 575 2150 or 090 9496 0648. If you are overseas, please do not call for general information; email us instead. We typically reply within 24 hours.
It is essential to confirm your dates in advance and send us the completed application. To do so, contact us by email at ShoganjiZenRetreat@gmail.com.
Our mailing address: Shōganji Zen Temple, Jiho Kongo, 269 Shūki, Ōita-shi, Ōita-ken, 879-2115, JAPAN
