Suggested Koyasan 2-Day Itinerary

The following is a suggested 2-day itinerary for average-paced travelers which takes you through Koyasan, the center of Shingon Buddhism. Parts of the route, namely the Women Pilgrims Course, follow a nature trail, and proper walking shoes are recommended, especially during or after wet weather.

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Day 1: Okunoin and Temple Lodging

Start

Start at Koyasan Station

Bus

15 minutes

Karukayado-mae bus stop

Walk

5 minutes

Okunoin Temple

Temple where Kobo Daishi is enshrined 2-3 hours

Okunoin is the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism and an important figure in the religious history of Japan. The grounds contain a huge graveyard of those who want to be close to Kobo Daishi.

Walk

20 minutes

Head to your temple lodging in the town by bus or on foot

Temple Lodging

Overnight at a Buddhist temple

Stay overnight at a temple lodging (shukubo) and participate in the temple activities like meditation. Facilities at a shukubo tend to be simple, and meals served are vegetarian monks' cuisine (shojin ryori).

Finish

Day 2: Temples and a Pilgrimage Trail

Start

Check out of the temple lodging after breakfast

Walk

Kongobuji Temple

Head monastery of the Shingon sect 45-60 minutes

Kongobuji Temple is a large temple where visitors can see exquisitely painted fusuma doors from the 16th and 17th centuries. The rock garden in the back of the temple is one of Japan's largest.

Walk

5 minutes

Garan

Koyasan's central temple complex 45 minutes

The Garan consists of several buildings, of which the two most prominent ones are the Kondo Hall and the Konpon Daito Pagoda. Of note is also the Chumon Gate which was reconstructed recently.

Walk

10 minutes

Daimon Gate

Large vermilion gate 5 minutes

A large, two-story tall gate that marks the traditional entrance to Koyasan.

Women Pilgrims Course

Hiking trail that was traditionally for women 60 minutes

The Women Pilgrims Course leads around the town of Koyasan and was built for women who were banned from entering the town before 1872. We walk the section from the Daimon Gate to the only surviving Nyonindo Hall, halls built for female pilgrims.

Nyonindo bus stop

Bus

5 minutes

Finish

Koyasan Station

Questions? Ask in our forum.

Budget:

- Koyasan Guest House Tommy
  Budget-friendly
  
  Located 500 metres from Kongobu-ji Temple, Koyasan Guest House Tommy in Koyasan provides rooms with air conditioning and free WiFi. This 1-star guest house offers luggage storage space. The guest house features family rooms. At the guest house, each room comes with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen and towels. Guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Nyonindo is 1.4 km from Koyasan Guest House Tommy. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 64 km from the accommodation.
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- Guest House Suzumeno Kakurembo
  Budget-friendly
  
  Offering free WiFi and a restaurant, Guest House Suzumeno Kakurembo offers rooms in Koyasan, 2.4 km from Kongobu-ji Temple and 1.9 km from Nyonindo. This 2-star guest house offers luggage storage space. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 61 km from the guest house.
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- Koyasan Syukubo Ekoin Temple
  Mid-range
  
  A 1000 year-old Buddhist temple, Shukubo Koya-san Eko-in offers Japanese-style accommodation, a beautiful garden and free WiFi. Guests are free to attend Buddhist morning services, the Goma fire ritual and meditation. Rooms feature tatami-mat flooring, comfortable futon bedding and paper sliding screens. They are fitted with an LCD TV and a safe. Bathroom facilities are shared, and the public baths are open 16:00-22:00 and 06:00-09:00 daily. Shukubo Temple is close to other ancient Buddhist buildings such as Kongobu-ji Temple, which is a 10-minute walk. The Ichi-no-Hashi entrance to the ancient Okuno-In Temple is a 3-minute walk away. Guests can experience group meditation, and they can write Buddhist texts with a brush and ink on scrolls at their room. They can also go hiking in the scenic surroundings of Koya-san Eko-in. The temple has a lounge with a PC corner. Meals are served at the guest room at scheduled times and feature Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and gluten-free meals can be requested at an additional fee. Groups of 4 or more persons dine at the Japanese-style dining room, where chairs can be provided upon advance request.
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- Koyasan Shukubo Fudoin
  Mid-range
  
  Located in Koyasan, within 800 metres of Kongobu-ji Temple and 1.7 km of Nyonindo, Koyasan Shukubo Fudoin provides accommodation with a garden and as well as free private parking for guests who drive. This 3-star ryokan offers luggage storage space. The ryokan features family rooms. At the ryokan, each room includes a wardrobe. Each room comes with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV, and certain rooms at Koyasan Shukubo Fudoin have a balcony. At the accommodation all rooms have bed linen and towels. Guests at Koyasan Shukubo Fudoin can enjoy a vegetarian breakfast. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 65 km from the ryokan.
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- Jokiin
  Mid-range
  
  Located in Koyasan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jokiin offers free private parking. All rooms include a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms have a seating area where you can relax. Rooms have a shared bathroom. Jokiin features free WiFi throughout the property. There is luggage storage space at the property. Guests can participate in the morning prayers upon request. The property is a minute's walk from Kongobu-ji Temple. The temple building is also situated nearby.
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- Sojiin
  Luxury
  
  Located at the heart of Mount Koya, Sojiin offers Japanese-style accommodations in a Buddhist temple. Vegan meals are served for dinner and breakfast. Sakai is 42 km from Soji. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 40 km from the property.
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- Kumagaiji
  Budget-friendly
  
  A Buddhist temple lodging accommodation, Kumagaiji lies amid mountains in the sacred Koyasan area. It features classic Japanese architecture and a tranquil atmosphere, adjoining a temple built in 837. The property serves traditional vegetarian meals. Featuring minimalist lines and a serene beauty, rooms come with a tatami (woven-straw) floor and traditional futon bedding. A TV and a low table are provided. Bathroom and toilet are shared with other guests. Certain rooms feature garden views. Kumagaiji offers free WiFi in all rooms. A limited number of free tablet rental is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Luggage can be stored at the property at no extra charge. Guests can participate in Buddhist liturgy sessions and Homa rituals in the morning, free of charge. Activities such as Sutra copying and the tracing of Buddhist images are offered at an additional charge. Healthy vegetarian meals are served in the dining room for dinner and breakfast. The property is a 2-minute walk from bus stop Karukayado-mae, which is a 15-minute bus ride from the Koyasan Cablecar Station. The famous Kongobu-ji Temple is a 12-minute walk away.
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- Yochi-in
  Budget-friendly
  
  Located in the sacred Mount Koya area, Yochi-in is a historic temple and an accommodation for visitors. Just to the left of entering sanmon gate, there is a stone garden created by the famous Mirei Shigemori and designated a natural monument by the Japanese government. Guests can experience temple activities such as meditation, sutra copying and tracing of Buddhist deities at an additional charge, if reserved in advance. Guests can also participate in morning prayers, which do not require reservation. All rooms at Yochi-in are Japanese-style and feature tatami (woven-straw) floors. Traditional futon bedding, a TV, fan and heater are provided. Bathroom and toilet are shared with other guests. The spacious public baths feature a hot tub. On-site luggage storage is available. Guests with reservations that include a meal can enjoy delicately prepared homemade vegetarian meals featuring seasonal dishes. Convenience stores are located within a 3-minute walking distance from the property. It is a 10-minute walk from the famous Kongobuji Temple. Guests can visit the Buddhist temple, Danjogaran, just a 3-minute walk away.
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- Koyasan Saizenin
  Mid-range
  
  Located in the sacred Koyasan area, Saizenin offers simple accommodation surrounded by mountains and many temples. Originally developed as a lodging for the temples�f pilgrims, it conducts Buddhist services every morning that guests can attend. Nankai Koyasan Train Station is a 15-minute drive away. Fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding, each room comes with a flat-screen TV and a seating area. A safety deposit box is also provided. The Koyasan Saizenin features luggage storage and free parking. Kansai International Airport is 40 km away. Nankai Namba Train Station in Osaka is a 2-hour train ride from the proprety. Healthy vegetarian meals are served in the guest room or in the dining room for dinner and breakfast.
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- Koyasan Zofukuin
  Budget-friendly
  
  Open from 2017 and located in Mount Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zoufukuin offers a traditional Japanese-style accommodation housed within a Buddhist temple. Guests can reach Zoufukuin in 10 minutes by bus from Koyasan Station to Reihokanmae Bus Stop. Koyasan Reihokan Museum is a minute's walk from Zoufukuin, while Kongobuji is a 5-minute walk away. Koyasan Daishikyokai is a 2-minute walk away and Koyasan University is 5 minutes away on foot. Kansai International Airport is 40 km from the property. All rooms are Japanese-style rooms and include bathrobes. The bathroom is shared. Guests with a meal plan will be provided with local traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. There is a convenience store within a 3-minute walk from the property.
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