Temples turn to lodgings for overseas tourists in bid to survive

Overnight stays at Japanese temples have become a popular activity among overseas tourists as the establishments look for innovative ways to survive amid a population decline and a decreasing number of Buddhist parishioners in the country.At the temples, guests can meditate and make a handwritten copy of a Buddhist sutra using Japanese calligraphy."The setting was very nice with the sounds of the rain," said Norwegian resident Viral Shah, 31, who meditated at a temple lodging on Mt. Koya, a UNESCO world heritage site in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan.According to the Japan Tourism Agenc…READ FULL ARTICLE