Retreat to the mountains of Koyasan for an incredible spiritual experience. Travel by scenic cable car to the UNESCO-Heritage centre of Shingon Buddhism. Explore some of the site’s one hundred temples, witness monks chanting early morning prayers and wander through the remarkable, historic cemetery.
Itinerary
📍 Journey times: Central Kyoto to Koyasan Station: approx. 2.5 h Central Osaka to Koyasan Station: approx. 1.5 h
Depart Kyoto or Osaka for Koyasan via express train. Pass through river valleys and forested slopes as the train snakes its way into the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture, once thought to be home to ancient gods of nature. The final approach is made on Japan’s steepest cable car. This tour can start from Osaka or Kyoto, where the guests will meet today’s guide in their hotel lobby. Travel to Koyasan via train, passing through river valleys and up forested slopes into the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture. The final approach is made via Japan’s steepest cable car and then a short bus ride into town.
Welcome to Koyasan, a small community of over 100 temples of the secretive Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism. This mountain enclave has endured for over 1,200 years, and remains a fascinating relic of a time when religion governed the politics and daily life of historic Japan.
Stroll through the Danjo Garan complex, a collection of temple buildings in the heart of Koyasan. Enter the brightly painted Konpon Daito Pagoda, which houses an awe-inspiring altar flanked by towering statues. Nearby is the Kondo Hall, a massive wooden structure where priests gather for services.
During sightseeing with the guide, stop for a casual lunch.
Visit Kongobuji, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism. Peek into beautifully decorated historic rooms and see the cavernous wooden kitchen where meals are still prepared for monks on special occasions.
In the mid-afternoon, arrive at tonight’s shukubo, overnight temple lodgings, where the guide will say farewell. Some temples offer afternoon meditation sessions or other optional activities, or guests can simply take time to relax in their room or stroll the town before a traditional shojin ryori Buddhist vegetarian dinner. (L)
After this remarkable journey through the spiritual past of Japan, guests are escorted to their shukubo (temple lodging) for the evening. A delicious shojin ryori vegetarian Buddhist dinner is served in a delightfully traditional atmosphere.
As the evening nears, prepare for a fascinating night tour of Okunoin Cemetery, Japan’s most storied graveyard. This resting place of priests and samurai is home to countless legends, ancient cedar trees, and abundant wildlife.
Check-in for the tour between 18:30 and 19:00 at TAIRA, a café directly across the street from Eko-in Temple on the main street in Koyasan. The tour departs at 19:00, when a priest will guide the group to the entrance of Okunoin Cemetery.
The cemetery itself is not spooky, but meditative and atmospheric. With a history reaching back almost 1200 years, there are plenty of amazing sights and fascinating legends to learn from the guide on this approximately 1 hour walk. This is not a “ghost tour” but a respectful look at Buddhist practices and Koyasan’s history.
On lucky evenings, guests may even see local wildlife like flying squirrels, fireflies, and owls.
Walk past ancient graves covered in centuries of moss before reaching the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Koyasan. He rests here not dead and buried, but in “eternal meditation.” The priest will explain the great significance that Kobo Daishi had on Japanese history and culture, and then chant a solemn prayer.
The tour will disband at the far end of the cemetery. Guests can walk back to their temple lodging on their own, or take a bus at no additional charge.
(Note: The approximately 3km walk is mostly flat but does include slopes, steps, and rocky pathways. Not suggested for guests with mobility concerns or those who are not comfortable walking in the dark. Wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed.)
Times:
Start (guided daytime tour): upon arrival at Koyasan Station
Duration: approx. 4 h
Start (nighttime cemetery tour): 19:00
Duration: approx. 1.5h (including bus back to central Koyasan)
Overnight in Koyasan
Inclusions:
☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner
Today is a self-guided day.
The rest of the day is at leisure until the scheduled departure from Koyasan.
Suggested Sightseeing Itinerary:
Join the optional morning prayer service at the temple lodging, to hear the priests chant and drum as they greet the morning. Vegetarian breakfast is served after the service.
Explore the treasures of the Reihokan Museum, where thousands of religious items are on display. See vividly painted scrolls featuring intricate mandala diagrams of the gods and expertly carved wooden statues.
Walk to the west end of the town to see the official entrance to the town where pilgrims still arrive, the massive wooden Sanmon Gate that overlooks the river valley below. Nearby is the finely decorated golden Tokugawa Masoleum, the resting place of two early shogun of the Edo Period.
When the time to depart Koyasan approaches, board a bus to the cable car station before descending the mountain and to where an express train awaits bound for Osaka.
Inclusions:
☕ Breakfast
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