Mt. Koya is a sacred site for Esoteric Buddhism established by high priest Kukai in 816.
He tried to build the Buddas’ world in a small mountaintop basin of altitude 800m.
There are 117 temples there centered by the Temple Complex where the important buildings are located.
People believe that the high priest Kukai is still alive to meditate in his chamber in the holy cemetery Okuno-in. They say there are 400,000 tomb stones, monuments, pagodas and other there.
JR Wakayama station
Stand in Danjo Garan are Konpon Fundamental Pagoda, Golden Hall, Shintoism Shrine, Central Gate, West Pagoda, East Pagoda and other important facilities.
High Priest Kukai tried to express the world of mandala by arranging Konpon Fundamental Pagoda in the center and other important temples and pagodas around it. And expressed inside Konpon Fundamental Pagoda is a 3D mandala.
Mandala is a picture which expresses the universe in Buddhism. I always feel that I am a part of the universe at Danjo Garan. I will tell you why. (ticket JPY500)
Kongobuji was named so by Kukai when it was constructed in 816. Nowadays the Koyasan Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism has about 4000 affiliated temples throughout Japan and overseas and is headquartered here. Buddhist altar rooms and guest rooms in the temple are beautifully decorated and you can feel the profoundness of Buddhism arts. Many of the existing buildings are the reconstruction of 1862. (tickts JPY1000)
Mt. Koya is famous for its vegetarian cuisine which is very well known as “shojin ryori”.
At the end of the pilgrimage path, beyond the uncountable number of tomb stones, there is a mausoleum of Kukai. People believe that Kukai is still alive here to keep meditating. Why are there so many tombs here? Why does Kukai keep meditating at Okuno-in? I will explain. (free)
JR Wakayama station We will take tha 4:59pm Nankai train from Koyasan
guiding fee
Insurance
Lunch (you and guide)
Transportation fare
Entrance tickets
As we will walk for more than two kilometers, comfortable shoes are recommended.
It is cooler in Koyasan than in Wakayama by five degrees, be prepared for this cooler weather.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance. Make sure to be covered by your own insurance.
Direct payment will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
Kiroyuki was so knowledgeable about the area and gave us historical background on everything. He listened to what we were wanting to experience and made sure he provided it for us. He was very patient and considerate with my health conditions as well. He went above and beyond by helping us navigate the trains and cab. He helped us purchase train cards and download the best app to get cabs. He spoke really good English and was familiar with American customs. We had an amazing time thanks to him.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was a very hot mid-summer day. We had a record-breaking hot summer this year in Japan. It is raining today, and the weather forecast says that today in the last summer day here. Please take care of yourself and come back to Japan in spring or fall next time. Many thanks to you. Best wishes, Hiro
Hiro was fantastic. I felt like I was in my own college class. He made history come to life. If you are looking for the best guide he is your man. Thanks Hiro for two adventure full days. Best. George.
George san, Thank you very much for everything. I had wonderful two days with you in Kyoto. By the way, Osaka is a place to enjoy its culture. And Nara, Mt. Koya and Himeji Castle are easy to access from Osaka. You can make a one day trip to Hiroshima as well. I hope you will have a wonderful time in Osaka as well. And enjoy the SHOW!
We spent our first day in Nara with Hiroyuki, who gave us an exceptional tour of Nara Park and its breathtaking shrines and temples. Hiro is incredibly knowledgeable, answering all our questions with fascinating details, and his decades of experience as a tour guide truly shine through. He is also very accommodating, patient, and speaks good English. We couldn't have asked for a better guide to introduce us to Nara's rich history and culture. Thank you Hiro O.
Thank you very much for your kind words. It was really nice meeting such a nice couple like you. Yes, you asked me a lot of questions and liked your questions. I hope you liked my answers as well. Take good care of yourself and enjoy rest of your days in Japan.
Hiro was a fantastic tour guide, showing us all the sites of Osaka. He was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with all of our questions. We cannot say enough good things about our experience with him. Thank you!
Thank you very much for your kind words. I hope you had a good time in Osaka yesterday. By the way, how is your knee? Are you okay? Have you heard that JR had made a cancellation announcement? I hope that everything will go well with you.