basic information

How to get to Koyasan

Koyasan is most conveniently accessed by Nankai Railways from Osaka's Namba or Shin-Imamiya Station. First, take the Nankai Koya Line to the terminal station Gokurakubashi. By limited express (tokkyu) the ride takes about 80 minutes and costs 1,610 Yen, while express trains (kyuko) take about 100 minutes, but cost only 850 Yen.

From Gokurakubashi, take the cablecar up Koyasan. The ride takes about five minutes and costs 380 Yen. From the top station, it is a 10 minute bus ride into the town center. Note that it is not permitted to walk along the street which connects the cablecar station with the town center.

Instead of buying single tickets, you can save a little bit by purchasing the Koyasan Free Sabic ticket for 2,780 Yen. It includes the return trip from Osaka to Koyasan and bus travel within the town. It is sold at Nankai Railways stations.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

Orientation

Koya Town stands on a wooded mountain, about 1000 meters above sea level. The head temple and garan are located in the town center, while Okunoin, where Kobo Daishi is enshrined, stands at the town's opposite end. It takes about five minutes by bus and 15-30 minutes on foot to reach Okunoin from the town center. The connecting street is lined by several dozens of temples, many of which serve as shukubo (temple lodgings).

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