Mount Koya / Koya-san
About Mount Koya / Koya-san
The sacred mountain of Koyasan, located in beautiful forested hills 50km south of Osaka in Wakayama Prefecture, is a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.
Shingon (True Word) Buddhism is a form of esoteric or tantric Buddhism introduced to Japan by the monk Kukai (774-835) - known after his death as Kobo Daishi - in the 9th century.
Kukai spent two years studying esoteric Buddhism in Xian, China and is a mythical figure in Japanese history, credited with inventing the hiragana script, as well as being a distinguished scholar, court official, poet, linguist and calligrapher.
After being granted permission by the Emperor Saga to build a Shingon temple complex and religious retreat on Koyasan, work began at the site in 816.
Shingon (True Word) Buddhism is a form of esoteric or tantric Buddhism introduced to Japan by the monk Kukai (774-835) - known after his death as Kobo Daishi - in the 9th century.
Kukai spent two years studying esoteric Buddhism in Xian, China and is a mythical figure in Japanese history, credited with inventing the hiragana script, as well as being a distinguished scholar, court official, poet, linguist and calligrapher.
After being granted permission by the Emperor Saga to build a Shingon temple complex and religious retreat on Koyasan, work began at the site in 816.
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Getting there:
Air
Osaka's Kansai International Airport is the nearest international airport.
Rail
Koyasan is an approximately 90 minute train journey from Osaka Namba Station by Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station and then cable car to Koyasan.
From Wakayama take the JR Wakayama Line to Hashimoto, then change to the Nankai Koya Line. From Kyoto it is quicker to go via Namba.
Bus
There are local bus services from the cable car station to Ichi-no-hashi. Bicycle hire is another option for getting around and can be rented from the Koyasan Tourist Office.
Osaka's Kansai International Airport is the nearest international airport.
Rail
Koyasan is an approximately 90 minute train journey from Osaka Namba Station by Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station and then cable car to Koyasan.
From Wakayama take the JR Wakayama Line to Hashimoto, then change to the Nankai Koya Line. From Kyoto it is quicker to go via Namba.
Bus
There are local bus services from the cable car station to Ichi-no-hashi. Bicycle hire is another option for getting around and can be rented from the Koyasan Tourist Office.
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First To Review:
Nov 1, 2009
Koyasan is a tiny place but big religious village. IT worths to spend here a day to visit the shrines, temples, but the most important is the Okunoin Cemetery, where among the huge trees you can find around 500.000 tombs. At the end of the path (maybe a fifteen minute walk) is the main temple complex, where there is a room of lanterns, some of which have been burning for over nine hundred years. Behind the temple is the closed-off pagoda mausoleum of the enlightened monk. A peaceful place.
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