Wakayama
Koyasan
An sacred area
that Kobo Daishi Kukai has founded
Welcome to the extraordinary
Koyasan is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" , and has wondrous history, culture, and nature.
When you normally come up of temples, you might think of one piece of architecture, but Koyasan is known as a "Sacred area", and the whole area of Koyasan are precincts of a temple.
Recommended route
DepartureNankai Namba station
90 minutes by Nankai Electric Railway (Nankai Koya Line)
Gokurakubashi station
5 minutes by Nankai Electric Railway (Koyasan Cable car)
Koyasan station
20 minutes by Nankai Rinkan Bus (To Okunoin-mae)
Okuno-in
15 minutes by Nankai Rinkan Bus (To Daimon-minami Chushajo)
Kongobu-ji Head Temple
5 minute walk
Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex
5 minute walk
Koyasan Reihokan Museum
15 minutes by Nankai Rinkan Bus (To Koyasan sta.)
GoalKoyasan station
The first holy ground
Gokurakubashi station
Koyasan, the sacred area above the sky, is known as "Issan Keidaichi" which means that the whole area of Koyasan is the sacred area of the temple. Gokurakubashi is the first spot inside the sacred area, and is the boundary of the ordinary and the religious life.
Gokurakubashi station created "Chozuya (purification fountain) of the begining" where you purify your heart before entering the sacred area, and "Wings of Gokurakucho (mythical bird) " which you can write your wish and thoughts of your step to a new begining.
The journey to the sacred area which purifys your heart starts here.
- Address
- Kokuyurin, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
- Access
- Gokurakubashi station, Nankai Koya Line
The place where Kobo Daishi still prays
Okuno-in
Okuno-in is the center of the cult of Koyasan and is one of the most important sacred areas of the cult of Kobo Daishi. Tombstones of well-known warlords lye beside the approach with Japanese cedar trees aged more that hundreds of years. Walk through the spiritual area and enter the mausoleum where Kobo Daishi (Kukai) fell into deep meditation.
Koyasan has many events throughout the year, but "Shoujingu" is one of the most historical events. It started from 1,200 years ago when Kobo Daishi started his deep meditation and continues today. It is a ceremony to deliver meels for Kukai that waits at the mausoleum, and is held 2 times a day at 6:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.
- Address
- 550, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
- Access
- Drop off at Okunoin-mae, Nankai Rinkan Bus
The center of the 3,000 temples of Koyasan Shingon sect in Japan
Koyasan Shingon Sect Main Temple Kongobu-ji
This is the large and beautiful main temple of Koyasan Shingon sect. Inside the temple are many architectures, and you may see one of the largest stone gardens in Japan, "Banryutei", rooms decorated by gourgeous fusuma paintings (paintings drawn on the paper doors of Japanes rooms) by historical artists, and the room that Hidetsugu killed himself.
- Access
- 600, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
- Address
- Drop off at Kongobuji-mae, Nankai Rinkan Bus
One of the two main sacred sites along with Okuno-in
Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex
Danjo Garan is where Koyasan started, and is one of the 2 main spots of Koyasan with Okuno-in. It is the first spot where Kobo Daishi (Kukai) established Garan (buddhist temples) in Koyasan. Here, the symbol of Koyasan, Konpon Daito Pagoda awaits you.
You can find many spots to see here. The centeral hall of Koyasan, Kondo Hall, the national treasure, Fudo-do Hall, Chumon, which was reconstructed the first time in 172 years to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of Koyasan, and Sanko no Matsu (three-needled pinon) awaits you.
- Address
- 152, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
- Access
- Soon from Kondo-mae/Kongobuji-mae, Nankai Rinkan Bus
Enjoy the national treasures at once
Koyasan Reihokan Museum
Koyasan is a treasure box on top of the mountain and a hall of religious art, and you can find many national treasures and important cultural properties. Reihoukan was established in 1921 to protect, manage and open these precious cultural heritages to the publiic.
- Address
- 306, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
- Access
- 10 minute walk from Senjuin-bashi, Nankai Rinkan Bus
Other spots
OSAKA
Sightseeing Train "Tenku"
Enjoy the changing scenery from the window
Running area : "Hashimoto" station - "Gokurakubashi" station, Nankai Koya Line
Reservations : Reservation is only available by phone calls at the Tenku Reservation center. Call the center 10 days before (from 9 A.M.) to the day before (until 5 P.M.) the day you wish to ride Tenku.
OSAKA
Daimon
The entrance to the sacred area Koyasan
Address: Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
OSAKA
Kadohama Gomatohu Restaurant
Try the speciality of Koyasan, "Gomatofu" necessary for Shojin Ryori (vegetable dish for Buddism)
Address: 230, Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama
Opening Hours: 9:30 A.M. ~ 5:00 P.M. (Meals served from 11:00 A.M.)
Transportation facilities to use
Koyasan station, Nankai Electric Railways
(90 minutes by the Limited Express Koya from Nankai Namba station)
Related links