Updated on 11/06/2020:
Bookings can be made on the Terahaku website and via Rakuten LIFULL STAY, Vacation STAY and other hotel booking services inside and outside Japan starting from August 1, 2018.
In 2004, UNESCO designated Mt. Kōya (or Koyasan) along with two other locations on the Kii Peninsula, as "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range."[1]
Koyasan is also one of the best places in Japan to experience a night at a temple, with more than 50 temples in town serving as shukubo / 宿坊 / temple lodging—you can watch this video for a feeling of it.[2]
You can find out some temple lodging reviews on japanican.com. For example,
There are different ways to reach Mount Koya. Here we only highlight two main routes:
A good value way to reach Mount Koya is to purchase the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket from the Nankai ticket counter. This ticket includes round trip train, cable car, and all-day bus pass. This ticket works for either a single day trip or for staying one night on Koyasan. Also gives coupons for small discounts to popular destinations on the mountain. Also, consider other rail passes for the Kansai region.[19]
Mt Koya receives heavy snow during the winter. This is a time when few tourists venture up the mountain but those that do are rewarded with spectacular scenry and the temples can be seen in a whole new light.
Check out the monthly average temperature here.
The Koyasan (Mount Koya)
is home to the following famous sites:[14]
Koyasan is also one of the best places in Japan to experience a night at a temple, with more than 50 temples in town serving as shukubo / 宿坊 / temple lodging—you can watch this video for a feeling of it.[2]
Temple Lodging
You can find out some temple lodging reviews on japanican.com. For example,
- Daienin (大円院)
- More details here
- Eko-in (恵光院)
- Rengejo-in 蓮華定院
- Fudou-in 不動院 (15,200 yen; Check-in: 3pm; Check-out: 10am)
- Henjoko-in (遍照光院)
- Ichijoin (乗院)
- Kumagaiji (熊谷寺)
- Koyasan Onsen Fukuchi-in (高野山温泉福智院 ; one with hot spring)
- More details here
- Jimyo-in (持明院)
- Sekisho-in (赤松院)
For reservation, you can do it by email with Offical website of the Koyasan Tourist Association. The typical cost for a stay is between 9,000 and 15,000 yen per person and night, including dinner and breakfast. Most temples accept cash only.
Access by Train
- From Osaka
- The mountain is accessible primarily by the Nankai Electric Railway from Namba Station in Osaka
- From Wakayama
A good value way to reach Mount Koya is to purchase the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket from the Nankai ticket counter. This ticket includes round trip train, cable car, and all-day bus pass. This ticket works for either a single day trip or for staying one night on Koyasan. Also gives coupons for small discounts to popular destinations on the mountain. Also, consider other rail passes for the Kansai region.[19]
Temperature
Mt Koya receives heavy snow during the winter. This is a time when few tourists venture up the mountain but those that do are rewarded with spectacular scenry and the temples can be seen in a whole new light.
Check out the monthly average temperature here.
What to See
The Koyasan (Mount Koya)
is home to the following famous sites:[14]- Oku-no-In (奥の院)
- To the east of town is Oku-no-In (奥の院), the mausoleum of Kukai, lit by thousands of lanterns. According to tradition, the lights have been lit since Kukai's death over 1000 years ago.
- The mausoleum is surrounded by an atmospheric and immense graveyard, set among giant cedar trees with winding paths throughput. Particularly interesting are the many fanciful gravestones, including giant spaceships and cups erected respectively by an astronautical and coffee company, and a monument erected by a pesticide company to commemorate all its insect victims.
- Garan (伽藍)
- A temple complex designed by Kukai on the western side of town. In its center is the Konpon Daitō (根本大塔) pagoda, which according to Shingon doctrine represents the central point of a mandala covering not only Mt. Koya but all of Japan.
- Kongōbu-ji Temple (金剛峯寺) is the sprawling yet atmospheric headquarters of the Shingon sect, with a stone garden that outclasses many of Kyoto's best. Entry ¥500, including a rice cracker and a cup of tea.
Photo Credit
References
- Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (UNESCO)
- Mount Koya Temple Lodging (Shukubo)
- Koyasan Travel: Pilgrimage Trails
- Koyasan (Mount Koya)
- SACRED JOURNEYS | Shikoku (Preview) | PBS (video)
- PBS - Sacred Journeys - Part 2: Shikoku - YouTube (video)
- (Google Search) "pbs Shikoku Pilgrimage"
- Best Autumn Color Spots
- Travel Tips (Travel and Health)
- shukubo.net
- Offical website of the Koyasan Tourist Association with a list of temple lodgings.
- Japanese Guest Houses - Koyasan
- Reservation service for temple lodgings.
- Japanican - Koyasan
- Online reservation for temple lodgings.
- shukubo.net
- Offical website of the Koyasan Tourist Association with a list of temple lodgings.
- Get there by train (Mt Koya)
- Mount Koya (WikiTravel)
- Walking Guide (map)
- Nankai Koya Line - Nankai Rinkan Bus Timetables
- Kyoto Dream Trips (photos)
- Rail Passes for the Kansai Region (important)
- A myriad of tickets and rail passes are available to help tourists save some money
- Benefits of Kansai Thru Pass (2 days / 3 days)
- 20% discount coupon for Kongobuji Temple
- Osaka: Which Namba Station? (Travel for a Purpose)
- The Sacred Kumano Kodo: Kii Peninsula ( Japanes Documentary ) (video)
- Hotels (Japanology video on Youtube)
- Koyasan New Year at a Traditional Power Spot NHK WORLD (video)
- Weather forecast (Japan Meteorological Agency)
- Koyasan 14 day weather forecast, Japan
- BEGIN Japanology : Life in a Japanese Zen monastery
- Temple Lodging in Koyasan—Personal Experience (Travel for a Purpose)
- A Unique Hiking Experience on Fudo-Zaka Slope (不動坂) in Koyasan (高野山) (Travel for a Purpose)
- A Solo Trip Can Be A Disaster If You Forget These 7 Rules
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