Koyasan is one of Japan’s most important spiritual centers, as it is where Kobo Daishi, an important religious figure, brought Shingon Buddhism to Japan and set up the sect’s headquarters. Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai), believed that Buddhism and Shintoism shouldn’t be separated, and you can see evidence of this in various places, such as Shinto shrine buildings on Buddhist temple grounds, for example, which is now a rare sight in Japan.

After Kobo Daishi set up the headquarters, a temple town developed on the mountaintop. Many pilgrims visit Koyasan after completing the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage to pay their respects to Kukai, expressing gratitude for his protection during their journey. While Koyasan is not part of the pilgrimage route, its deep spiritual connection makes it a meaningful destination for those who have completed the trail.

One of the highlights of visiting Koyasan is the opportunity to stay at a temple among the Buddhist monks. The experience is like no other accommodation, as you can meditate with the monks, taste Shojin Ryori cuisine, and spend a night in an atmospheric temple. If you want to see a detailed itinerary about our recent temple stay, take a look at the link below.

Koyasan is most beautiful in spring and autumn. Summer can be hot, but with longer days to experience the mountain’s natural sights. Winter can be pretty in the snow, but due to the ancient nature of the temples and trails, can be a little dangerous to traverse by car or foot without preparation.

As Koyasan is a mountainous region away from the Shinkansen route, it is not the easiest to access from Tokyo. It is recommended to visit Koyasan when you are visiting Osaka, Kyoto, or a nearby prefecture.

Once in Koyasan, there are three bus routes to get around, though much of the town is walkable. See the schedule here.

There are plenty of tours and activities that you can book before your visit, some of which include travel from Osaka.

Here we’ll take you through a one-night itinerary of Koyasan.

Day one covers Daimon Gate, Kongobu-ji temple, Danjo Garan Pagoda complex, and a temple stay, while day two covers morning temple activities, Okunoin, and town sightseeing.

・Arrive at Koyasan Station at 9:12 AM. Take the 9:17 AM bus to Daimon, arrive 9:27 AM.
Daimon is the main spiritual gate to Mt. Koya. While it was once a Shinto torii gate, the gate that we see now is more of a Buddhist temple gate style, and has two Vadrajhara statues on either side. To the left of the gate is a trail entrance that can take you to Okunoin.

The Danjo Garan Pagoda Complex is Koyasan’s most iconic location. This is where Kobo Daishi first broke soil to create the temple buildings. An important symbol of Shingon Buddhism is the Mandalas of the Two Realms: the Diamond World Mandala and the Womb World Mandala. The Danjo Garan is said to express the second, and the golden Buddha in the central Konpon Daito pagoda is a 3D representation of that mandala. The Danjo Garan complex has a number of different buildings to explore, from the Konpon Daito to the spinning Rokkaku Kyozo. Aim to spend around an hour or more here to take in the scenery and learn about its history.

・10-minute walk to Kongobu-ji
Kongobu-ji, the head temple of Koyasan, was formed by the merger of two temples in 1869 and has operated under its current name since then. One of the original temples, now part of Kongobu-ji, was built in 1593 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The temple is surprisingly spacious with a lot of rooms and artwork to explore, including more modern pieces added within the past few years. The central garden, called Banryu-tei, has large rocks that were transported from Kobo Daishi’s birthplace of Shikoku. They are placed to resemble two large dragons protecting the temple.

・12-minute walk to Kadohama Gomatofu
Koyasan is famous for its production of goma tofu, a type of “tofu” made with sesame seeds instead of soybeans. The sesame seeds are said to have been an important source of protein for the monks, and peeling each seed would be a part of their rituals. Kado Hama is a well-known goma tofu brand, and at their restaurant they offer two types of goma tofu kaiseki (varied small dishes) that look like the two Buddhist mandalas.

Here is a good time to explore the town’s streets and shops, and take in the atmosphere. If you find yourself wanting a break, the Japanese Spice Shop, Hirano Seishoan, is a great place to stop for a drink or unique dessert topped with sansho spice.

After a day of traveling and walking, you can check into your shukubo (temple accommodation). It is a good idea to check in a little earlier than the evening’s activities so that you can explore the temple and have a break. On our visit, we stayed at Rengejo-in.

During our stay at Rengejo-in, the evening meditation began at 5 PM, with a bell to notify us five minutes before. While the time and format may differ slightly at each temple, on our visit we had a 40-minute mindful breathing meditation, with a talk from the head priest before and after.

After meditation, you will be guided to a dinner of vegetarian shojin ryori. This is an elaborate kaiseki dinner with various small dishes made for guests. After, you can visit the baths and return to your room to rest, as you will be up bright and early the next morning.

At Rengejo-in, the morning begins with a ceremony where the monks perform a sutra reading in honor of the deceased. During this session, the monks chant rhythmically the entire way through.

While not as elaborate as dinner, breakfast is also a version of vegetarian shojin ryori, with refills of warm rice and tea.

・5-minute walk from Rengejo-in
Historically, women were not permitted to enter the sacred land of Koyasan. This hall is one of the last points before entry to the grounds where women were permitted to enter, and served as a place of worship for them as close to Kobo Daishi as possible. It is a small area, but worth a visit to understand this part of history, and you can see the path that connects to Daimon.

・15-minute walk to Senjuin-bashi bus stop, 12-minute bus ride to Okunoin entrance
Okunoin is an important spot as it is where Kobo Daishi is entombed, making it the closest worshippers can be to him. He is not said to have died, but instead rests in eternal meditation. The grounds of Okunoin are large, making up a cemetery with over 200,000 tombstones amid a towering cedar tree forest. The Gobyo-no-hashi bridge separates the rest of the cemetery from the sacred site of Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum, where visitors bow before crossing. Twice a day, at 6 AM and 10:30 AM, monks bring food in a procession as an offering to Kobo Daishi, then return it to share among themselves. The grounds have a mystical feel to them, and are large enough to explore and still feel you haven’t seen it all.

・7-minute bus ride from Okunoin-mae to Kongobuji-mae
While not traditional cuisine, Café Shizuku is a relaxing spot to recharge with their signature vegetable curry, inspired by vegetarian Shojin Ryori. You’ll find the restaurant by looking for the statue of Koyasan’s mascot, Koya Kun. There are even cute desserts in the shape of him, known as Koya Kun Monaka and Mochi Ice, where you get a pastry shell to stuff with mochi, ice cream, and red bean paste. This is also a good spot for souvenirs.

・16-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride
While some temple stays offer a daily gomataki ceremony, if you aren’t able to see one there, you can visit Shojoshin-in at 1 PM to see the ceremony for free. This ceremony is unique to Shingon Buddhism, with the idea of purifying your mind, body, and spirit. At Shojoshin-in, you are invited to write down your wishes on a wooden plate (for 1,000 yen), which you can then throw into the fire, with the idea to achieve a simple life. The ceremony occurs between 1-2 PM each day.

・5-minute walk to Tenpu Terrace
Finally, head to Tenpu Terrace to explore their souvenirs or get a last snack or drink for the road. Then do any final exploring.

・30-minute bus ride from Tamagawa-dori to Koyasan Station
There are certain trains that go directly from Koyasan Station to Namba Station, including the 4:10 PM train (subject to change). Make sure to get a bus that arrives early enough to leave without worry, and head back through the misty mountain tracks.

We have mentioned a few places to get souvenirs and snacks in the itinerary, but here are some descriptions of those spots and their highlights.

A shop selling handmade sansho spices and oils with various flavorings. You can use them on a dish to give it some extra zing, and they are sold in small containers that are easy to take home. Or, try their vanilla ice cream with sansho sprinkled on top!

A shop and restaurant inside the Koyasan Digital Museum. Buy coffee, Koya Kun goods, sweets and snacks to take home, or stop by for a Koya Kun themed ice cream or lunch.

A large, modern souvenir shop and café with a wide variety of Koyasan goods. Browse everything from kimono jackets to cedar soaps, and all sorts of seasonal snacks. Head upstairs for a wide selection of gluten-free, vegetarian, or non-vegetarian meals and desserts. (We recommend the Tenpu Terrace Sesame Latte!)

Finally, here are some tips to make the most out of your trip to Koyasan!