For many visitors to Japan, Osaka’s lively atmosphere and Kyoto’s historic temples are must-see destinations. Yet travelers interested in Japan’s spiritual heritage often venture further into the Kansai region to visit Koyasan, the sacred mountain established by the monk Kobo Daishi (Kukai) and the center of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.

This UNESCO World Heritage area has long attracted pilgrims and travelers seeking a quieter side of Japan. Beginning April 24, 2026, reaching the mountain will become even more memorable with the launch of Nankai Electric Railway’s new sightseeing train, “GRAN Tenku.”

Running between Osaka’s Namba Station and Gokurakubashi Station, the final stop before the cable car to Koyasan, the train is designed to make the journey itself part of the experience. Spacious seating, mountain views, and onboard hospitality allow passengers to relax while traveling through the scenic landscapes of southern Osaka and Wakayama.

The GRAN Tenku train consists of four cars, each offering different seating styles and spaces to suit a variety of travel preferences. The approximately 90-minute journey between Namba and Gokurakubashi allows passengers to enjoy mountain scenery, socialize in shared spaces, or relax in comfortable seating.

Whether travelers are looking for a simple scenic ride or a more premium dining experience, the train offers multiple ways to enjoy the trip to Koyasan.

Cars 1 & 2: Scenic Views and Comfortable Seating
Cars 1 and 2 provide large windows and comfortable seating, allowing passengers to enjoy views of the Kinokawa River and the mountainous terrain along the Nankai Koyasan Line.

Price (per adult): Base fare + express surcharge 1,700 yen

Example: Traveling from Shin-Imamiya Station to Koyasan costs 3,130 yen in total (transport fare 1,430 yen + express surcharge 1,700 yen).

Car 1: Relaxing Seats
Car 1 features 24 reclining seats designed for comfort. The seating layout allows travelers to relax during the ride while taking in the scenery.

Car 2: Wide-View Seats
Car 2 is designed for sightseeing, with large windows that provide panoramic views of rivers, valleys, and forested mountains along the route.

Car 3: Lobby Lounge
Car 3 functions as a shared lounge space available to passengers traveling in Cars 1 through 4.

Light snacks, drinks, and original souvenirs related to Koyasan and the railway line are available for purchase. Many passengers spend part of the journey here enjoying the scenery while having coffee or refreshments.

Car 4: “GRAN Seat” and “GRAN Seat Plus”
Car 4 offers the most premium seating options on the train. Spacious sofa seating allows groups of up to four passengers to travel together while enjoying meals and drinks during the ride.

Depending on the plan selected, passengers can choose packages that include meals and drinks or lighter refreshment options.

Dining Experience on the Way to Koyasan
Meal plans are designed to highlight regional ingredients from southern Osaka and Wakayama. Travelers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea while watching the scenery pass by.

Top-Tier Plan: Dining and Free-Flow Drinks
The most premium plan includes a full meal service with free-flow drinks, including alcoholic beverages, served in the comfortable sofa seating area.

Plan options include Morning, Lunch, and Afternoon Tea services.

GRAN TENKU Morning Plan Menu
6 small dishes in an “okamochi” box + 2 specialty sandwiches + potage

This breakfast plan highlights regional ingredients from Wakayama and southern Osaka, paired with seasonal fruits and light dishes suitable for a morning journey toward Koyasan.

Menu highlights include grilled local vegetables, miso-marinated Spanish mackerel with Yuasa soy moromi sauce, carrot mousse with Arida mandarin jelly, domestic roast beef with jabara citrus sauce, and seasonal fruit.

The set also includes specialty sandwiches made with Rikuro-ojisan bakery bread and a cold sesame tofu potage flavored with Arida green sansho pepper.

GRAN TENKU Lunch Plan Menu
12 “okamochi” small dishes + seasonal takikomi rice + dobin-mushi soup

The lunch plan offers a wider selection of dishes prepared using regional specialties from Wakayama and Osaka. Meals are presented in a traditional “okamochi” box, a style of container historically used to deliver meals.

The menu includes dishes such as Kinzanji miso sesame tofu, Senshu octopus confit, miso-marinated Spanish mackerel, marinated tuna with plum sauce, roast beef with jabara citrus sauce, Kawachi duck sausage, and Arida sansho-seasoned chicken.

Seasonal takikomi rice and a cold dobin-mushi style soup complete the meal.

GRAN TENKU Afternoon Tea Plan Menu
6 desserts + 3 savory dishes

Passengers traveling from Koyasan back toward Osaka can enjoy an afternoon tea set featuring seasonal desserts and light savory dishes.

The menu includes sweets such as Beni-Nanko plum pudding, Mont Blanc chestnut dessert, vanilla tart, fruit tart, and butter sandwiches from “GENJI BAKE,” along with savory dishes such as grilled vegetables, sesame tofu with Kinzanji miso, and a tandoori chicken wrap.

GRAN Tenku operates along the Nankai Koyasan Line between Namba Station and Gokurakubashi Station, a distance of approximately 63.6 kilometers.

Tickets for GRAN Tenku will go on sale at 10 AM on April 1, 2026.

GRAN Tenku operates two round trips per day, allowing travelers to visit Koyasan on a convenient daytime schedule.
・Outbound No. 1: Dep. Namba 9 AM → Arr. Gokurakubashi 10:30 AM (Morning Plan)
・Outbound No. 3: Dep. Namba 12:45 PM → Arr. Gokurakubashi 2:20 PM (Lunch Plan)
・Inbound No. 2: Dep. Gokurakubashi 10:46 AM → Arr. Namba 12:13 PM (Lunch Plan)
・Inbound No. 4: Dep. Gokurakubashi 2:58 PM → Arr. Namba 4:28 PM (Afternoon Tea Plan)

For more than 1,200 years, Koyasan has served as a spiritual center of Japanese Buddhism. Visitors today come to explore temple complexes, walk among the towering cedar trees of Okunoin, and experience the tranquil atmosphere of the mountain.

With the launch of GRAN Tenku on April 24, 2026, travelers will be able to enjoy a scenic and comfortable journey from Osaka before arriving at Koyasan. For those planning a Kansai itinerary that includes Osaka, Wakayama, or Kyoto, this sightseeing train offers a memorable way to reach one of Japan’s most historic destinations.

(Source/Main Image: PR Times)