Mt Koya

Mt Koya is a generic name of the mountains in Wakayama Prefecture with the altitudes approx. 1,000 meters.

Kukai studied the Tantric Buddhism from Eka, his master, at Senryuji Temple (not sure what this temple is called in Chinese) in Xi'an, China.

After he returned to Japan, he founded the Koyasan-Shingonshu, a Buddhism religeous sect. Its headquarters is the Kongobuji Temple. Mt Koya was donated to Kukai by Emperor Saga in 816. Thereafter monasteries and temples are built for monks to pray so that Buddha would protect general people from diseases etc with his almighty power. Also the monks educated their apparentices there. These establishments were female-free until 1872.

1) Okunoin

It's a cemetery where Kukai, imperial families, feudal lords and business leaders in modern times sleep.




















2) Kongobuji Temple
It used to be a name of Mt Koya as a whole, but what is currently called Kongobuji Temple was merged from two temples.








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--Access to Koyasan--

Take the Nankai Koya Line from Osaka Namba to Koyasan with a transfer or two en route. The connection works mostly every 30 minutes, and the whole trip takes 1.5 hours to 2 hours. In case you take the limited express Koya from Namba to Gokurakubashi, it incurs a 760-yen limited express surcharge. The total base fare from Namba to Koyasan is 1,230 yen.



Express train between Namba and Hashimoto



Local train between Hashimoto and Gokurakubashi



Limited express 'Koya' between Namba and Gokurakubashi




Cable Car between Gokurakubashi and Koyasan



Koyasan Station


You might want to purchase the Kansai Thru Pass for a trip to Koyasan from Osaka. It is very likely to pay for itself.

Kansai Thru Pass info

jorudan, for train schedule and fare search





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