Mountain Koya
Mountain Koya is located in the south of Osaka and on the east of Wakayama. With a history of 1,200 years, Mount Koya has developed into a thriving and active Buddhist ashram and become one of the most popular Buddhist holy lands in Japan. You can find hundreds of temples surrounded by countless ancient cedars in the mountains. Furthermore, you can take part in meditation, experience copying scriptures, and conduct a fire festival with monks.
See Also: Wakayama Attractions 10 Best Day Trips from Osaka
Who Established Temples in Mountain Koya?
Kukai (774-835), also named Kobo Daishi, is the originator of Japanese Shingon Buddhism, and he established the temple complex in Mountain Koya in 816.Must-sees in Moutain Koya
Kongobuji Temple
It is the most famous temple on the mountain and is the national treasure of Japan. The temple is the headquarter of 3,600 subordinate Kongobuji temples around Japan. If you are a Buddhism believer, you even can pay to live in the temple and experience the daily affairs of the monk. Besides, you can visit the largest stone court in Japan, "the Dragon Court”, and appreciate the fine paintings in the main hall of the temple. By the way, you need to take off your shoes to enter the temple.Okuno-In Temple
Okuno-In Temple is one of the two holy lands of Mountain Koya, and it is the largest graveyard in Japan. On the two sides of the path to the temple, you are able to see more than 200,000 tombstones and some mini statues of Buddha with clothes and hats. The place is the burial site of not only a number of anonymous, but also some of Japan's famous military strategists, artists, and royalty. The stories of these figures reflect the history of Japan. Approaching the core area of the temple requires crossing two Bridges, and you are not allowed to take photos after crossing the second bridge. Besides, there are about 20,000 lanterns distributed throughout the temple, and the lanterns in the Torodo are always lit. It is said that there are two lanterns that have been burning for nearly 900 years. The temple offers night tour, and the monk will tell the story about these ancient tombstones in English. You even can see fireworms and flying squirrels during the tour.Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex
It is the other holy land of Mountain Koya, and the place was used by monks to study and practice Buddhism. The Kinpon Daito, a tower about 49 meters (160 feet) high, together with the Golden Hall are the main buildings. The Kinpon Daito is supported by 16 thick wooden pillars, and colorful colorful Buddha statues are painted on the pillars. You also can see a golden Buddha sitting in the center of the Kinpon Daito.Reihokan Museum
The museum stores abundant art objects related to Buddhism, like statues, paintings, calligraphy work, and scriptures, among which some objects are listed as the national treasures of Japan.Tips
1. You can rent an audio guide in English to help you explore the place more easily, and the fee is about 500 yen.2. It provides bicycle and electric car rental services.
3. The temperature in the mountains is lower than in the city, and September is the best time to visit the temples for temperature is optimal.
4. Tofu with different tastes is the specialty here. You can try it.
5. If you plan to stay overnight, the temple offers accommodation.
Ticket
It is free to visit the mountain, but some temples require entry fees.Opening Time
You can enter the mountain at any time, but the majority of the temples are open from 8:30 to 17:00.Recommended Visit Time
About half a day.How to Get to Mountain Koya
The Mountain Koya is relatively remote, and you need to transfer several times to get there from Osaka. The area of Mountain Koy is large; but don’t worry, there are internal traffic tools like cable car and Kankai Rinkan Bus.From Shin Osaka Station
Take the Metro Midosuji Line, and get off at Namba Station. Then change to Railway Nankai Koya Line, and get off at Gokurakubashi Station. Next, take Nankai Kōyasan Cable, and get off at Kōyasan Station. At last take the Kankai Rinkan Bus Koyasannai Line, and get off at Koyakeisatsu-mae. The route takes about 2.5 hours.From Wakayama
Take the Wakayama Line, and get off at Hashimoto Station. Then change to Railway Nankai Koya Line, and get off at Gokurakubashi Station. Next, take Nankai Kōyasan Cable, and get off at Kōyasan Station. Finally, take the Kankai Rinkan Bus Koyasannai Line, and get off at Koyakeisatsu-mae. The whole single way takes about 2.5 hours.
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