Where is Koya-san?
Have you ever heard about Koyasan? I knew this place when I was travelling in Japan. I think this place is worth to visit when you are planning to travelling around Osaka. Where is Koyasan? What's make this place become the World Heritage? Let's check it out!
Brief Introduction
Koya-san--a Holy Mountain is home to an active monastic center founded twelve centuries ago by the priest Kukai (posthumously known as Kobo Daishi) for the study and practice of Esoteric Buddhism. This sacred mountain, enveloped in a mysterious atmosphere, it's located in south of Osaka in Wakayama Prefecture and relatively close to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto (about three-hour trip from both cities). Koya-san itself is a modifying word for Kongobu-ji, there is no mountain officially called Koya-san in Japan.
Koya-san is located in an 800 m high valley amid the eight peaks of the mountain (which was the reason this location was selected, in that the terrain is supposed to resemble a lotus plant), the original monastery has grown into the town of Koya, featuring a university dedicated to religious studies and 120 temples, many of which offer lodging to pilgrims.
Situated on a small plain at the top of Mount Koya is the sacred area known as the Danjo Garan, a complex of temples, halls, pagodas and Buddhist statuary that welcome visitors to this serene and hallowed place.
Surrounded by a thick forest of massive cedars, the area known as Okuno-in, or the Inner Sanctuary, is the setting for a vast cemetery that features the mausolea of numerous famous Japanese, including that of the samurai ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (or Taiko Hideyoshi) as well as memorials to the spirits of soldiers killed in the Pacific War.
Koya-san was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2004 as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Moreover, the Michelin Green Guide Japan awarded its three-star rating to the area.
Koya-san is also one of the best place to experience an overnight stay at a temple lodging (shukubo) where you can get a taste of monk's lifestyle, eating vegetarian monk's cuisine (shojin ryori) adn attending the morning prayers.
My Journal
Actually Koya-san is not in my very first must visit place list. I decided to go to Koyasan when I was in Japan. When I first heard about Koya-san from another traveler, I don't have any idea what kind of place is that, and I never heard about that place before.
When I got home, I search everything that I can find about Koya-san, it's turn out that Koya-san is an area related to Buddhist, how can I resist the temptation to go there then? So, I went to Koya-san in my 6th day in Japan.
I went to Koyasan by train and transfer to cable car to reach the Koya Station, because there is no direct train to Koya-san. After reach the last station, Gokurakubashi Station, I transfer to the cable car that will take you to Koya-san. It takes 5 minutes before you arrive in Koyasan Station. I recommend you to sit in the front seat to get the best view of the short trip with cable car. (I'm too slow, so I just got the second row.)
Bus station is located near the cable car station, you can walk directly and take the bus to the place you want to go. But don't forget to buy the ticket. They recommend to buy Koya-san one day ticket to explore the whole Koya-san. Fortunately I already have my three day ticket "Kansai Pass", and I can use it there too (Oh, yeah!). Don't forget to take the Koya-san booklet, it help you to decide where you want to go and there's an explanation about those place in Koya-san. It really helpful for the people who travelling alone though (:
I went to almost of the place in the map: Kopon Daito, Kondo, Daimon, Kongobuji Temple and Okunoin. Maybe you will find some of the place look a like, but actually they're not similar.
One of the most sacred place is Okunoin (in my opinion), why? Because there are more than 200.000 tombs of people classes (from common townsfolk to military commanders) that have been built among the trees along the way to Okunoin. Their presence attesting to the deep faith in this holy mountain.
Oh yes! I forgot to mention about this. So, on the map there is a place called Otasuke Jizo, under this place name it's written "You can have one wish granted". My curiosity takes me there and found out there is a little temple (if you can called it a temple) there. And of course, I made my wish! You can try it too ;)
On my one day tour in Koya-san, I found this place very peaceful, relaxing yet adventurous. If you are planning to go to Japan and looking for a anti-mainstream tourist attraction place, maybe you can consider Koya-san to be on your list.
Are you going to visit Koya-san?
Is there any place in Japan that worth visit but few people know about it?
Share in comment below!(:
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| Welcome to Koya-san! |
Brief Introduction
Koya-san--a Holy Mountain is home to an active monastic center founded twelve centuries ago by the priest Kukai (posthumously known as Kobo Daishi) for the study and practice of Esoteric Buddhism. This sacred mountain, enveloped in a mysterious atmosphere, it's located in south of Osaka in Wakayama Prefecture and relatively close to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto (about three-hour trip from both cities). Koya-san itself is a modifying word for Kongobu-ji, there is no mountain officially called Koya-san in Japan.
 |
| Eireiden |
Koya-san is located in an 800 m high valley amid the eight peaks of the mountain (which was the reason this location was selected, in that the terrain is supposed to resemble a lotus plant), the original monastery has grown into the town of Koya, featuring a university dedicated to religious studies and 120 temples, many of which offer lodging to pilgrims.
Situated on a small plain at the top of Mount Koya is the sacred area known as the Danjo Garan, a complex of temples, halls, pagodas and Buddhist statuary that welcome visitors to this serene and hallowed place.
Surrounded by a thick forest of massive cedars, the area known as Okuno-in, or the Inner Sanctuary, is the setting for a vast cemetery that features the mausolea of numerous famous Japanese, including that of the samurai ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (or Taiko Hideyoshi) as well as memorials to the spirits of soldiers killed in the Pacific War.
Koya-san was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2004 as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Moreover, the Michelin Green Guide Japan awarded its three-star rating to the area.
 |
| Welcome to The World Heritage Koya-san |
Koya-san is also one of the best place to experience an overnight stay at a temple lodging (shukubo) where you can get a taste of monk's lifestyle, eating vegetarian monk's cuisine (shojin ryori) adn attending the morning prayers.
Source: many sources
My Journal
Actually Koya-san is not in my very first must visit place list. I decided to go to Koyasan when I was in Japan. When I first heard about Koya-san from another traveler, I don't have any idea what kind of place is that, and I never heard about that place before.
When I got home, I search everything that I can find about Koya-san, it's turn out that Koya-san is an area related to Buddhist, how can I resist the temptation to go there then? So, I went to Koya-san in my 6th day in Japan.
I went to Koyasan by train and transfer to cable car to reach the Koya Station, because there is no direct train to Koya-san. After reach the last station, Gokurakubashi Station, I transfer to the cable car that will take you to Koya-san. It takes 5 minutes before you arrive in Koyasan Station. I recommend you to sit in the front seat to get the best view of the short trip with cable car. (I'm too slow, so I just got the second row.)
 |
| Inside The Cable Car |
Bus station is located near the cable car station, you can walk directly and take the bus to the place you want to go. But don't forget to buy the ticket. They recommend to buy Koya-san one day ticket to explore the whole Koya-san. Fortunately I already have my three day ticket "Kansai Pass", and I can use it there too (Oh, yeah!). Don't forget to take the Koya-san booklet, it help you to decide where you want to go and there's an explanation about those place in Koya-san. It really helpful for the people who travelling alone though (:
 |
| The Tree, The Lamp and The Road |
I went to almost of the place in the map: Kopon Daito, Kondo, Daimon, Kongobuji Temple and Okunoin. Maybe you will find some of the place look a like, but actually they're not similar.
 |
| Konpon Daito |
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| Chumon |
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| Kondo |
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| Daimon |
One of the most sacred place is Okunoin (in my opinion), why? Because there are more than 200.000 tombs of people classes (from common townsfolk to military commanders) that have been built among the trees along the way to Okunoin. Their presence attesting to the deep faith in this holy mountain.
 |
| Okunoin-mae |
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| Cementery Park |
Oh yes! I forgot to mention about this. So, on the map there is a place called Otasuke Jizo, under this place name it's written "You can have one wish granted". My curiosity takes me there and found out there is a little temple (if you can called it a temple) there. And of course, I made my wish! You can try it too ;)
 |
| Otasuke Jizo |
On my one day tour in Koya-san, I found this place very peaceful, relaxing yet adventurous. If you are planning to go to Japan and looking for a anti-mainstream tourist attraction place, maybe you can consider Koya-san to be on your list.
 |
| A Garden Near Konpon Daito |
Are you going to visit Koya-san?
Is there any place in Japan that worth visit but few people know about it?
Share in comment below!(:
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