Koyasan
Save18 hand-picked places in 7 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See a ready-made day plan ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Japan's largest cemetery, a 2 km path of mossy graves under giant cedars.
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Start at Ichinohashi bridge
- Join an evening guided walk
- No photos past Gobyonohashi bridge
📷 Photos
- 2
Hall of thousands of glowing lanterns before Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.
3 tips
- Remove hat and keep quiet
- Some lanterns have burned for 1,000 years
- Visit the mausoleum behind
📷 Photos
- 3
Sacred temple complex with the vermilion Konpon Daito pagoda.
3 tips
- Grounds are free, Daito is paid
- Combined tickets save money
- Lovely in autumn colours
📷 Photos
- 4
Head temple of Shingon Buddhism with painted screens and a rock garden.
3 tips
- Free tea and sweets inside
- See the Banryutei rock garden
- Shoes off at the entrance
📷 Photos
- 5
Massive traditional gate marking the old entrance to the mountain.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Great at sunset
- Walk from Danjo Garan in 15 min
- Fierce guardian statues on both sides
📷 Photos
- 6
Treasure museum of Buddhist statues, paintings and sacred artefacts.
3 tips
- Allow about an hour
- Exhibits rotate seasonally
- Near Danjo Garan
📷 Photos
- 7
Ornate 17th-century mausoleums of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada.
3 tips
- Small entry fee
- Quick visit, 15 minutes
- Covered by combo ticket
📷 Photos
- 8
Quiet temple with a 13th-century wooden pagoda, a National Treasure.
3 tips
- Off the main road, worth the detour
- Rhododendrons bloom in May
- Also offers temple lodging
📷 Photos
- 9
Temple lodging famous for its morning fire ritual and night tours.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Book ahead
1 tip
- Vegetarian shojin ryori meals
📷 Photos
- 10
Last remaining hall where women prayed when barred from the mountain.
3 tips
- Near the bus stop of the same name
- Start of the Nyonin-michi trail
- Free to visit
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Koyasan tips
Transportation
- Take the Nankai line and cable car: From Osaka's Namba station take the Nankai Koya line to Gokurakubashi, then the cable car up to Koyasan station.
- Use the Koyasan buses: Nankai Rinkan buses link the cable car station to Okunoin, Kongobuji and the town centre.
- Consider the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket: This Nankai pass bundles the round trip from Namba with local bus rides and discounts.
Security
- Watch steps in Okunoin: Paths through the cemetery are uneven and mossy; wear good shoes, especially at night or in rain.
- Plan for early nights: The town quiets after dark and buses become infrequent, so plan your return to your temple lodging.
- Check the cable car schedule: The last cable car and buses leave early; check times so you are not stranded.
Saving
- Use the shared ticket: A combined ticket covers several sites like Kongobuji and the Garan, saving money.
- Stay in shared rooms: Some shukubo offer cheaper rooms without private baths.
- Visit free sights: Okunoin cemetery is free to wander, day or night.
Weather/Clothing
- Bring warm layers: Koyasan is high in the mountains, so it is cooler than Osaka; bring a jacket even in summer.
- Winters are cold and snowy: December to February brings snow; bring warm clothes.
- Wear slip-on shoes: You will often remove shoes at temples, so slip-on shoes are convenient.
Cultural
- Stay at a shukubo: Temple lodgings serve shojin ryori, vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, and invite guests to morning prayers.
- Respect temple etiquette: Be quiet in prayer halls and follow the monks' guidance.
- Visit Kobo Daishi's mausoleum: The founder of Shingon Buddhism rests at Okunoin.
Local Hacks
- Take a night tour of Okunoin: Guided night walks through the lantern-lit cemetery are atmospheric.
- Join morning prayers: Wake early for the monks' morning service and fire ritual at your temple.
- Try goma tofu: Koyasan is famous for sesame tofu; buy some at local shops.
1-day itineraries in Koyasan
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.