Koyasan Spiritual Heart of Japan

Koyasan [Mount Koya, 高野山] is one of the World Heritage Sites on the Kii Mountain Range of Japan. It is considered to be the spiritual heart of Japan. Koyasan is a sacred Buddhist site that was established by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) [空海,弘法大師)] in the 9th century. Many people visiting Kansai region may miss this place but worth visiting. Journey up to Koyasan is easy. Just go to Namba Station, buy a Nankai Koya Line discount ticket cost JPY3,540; which includes train from Osaka Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station, Cable Car to Koyasan Station, 2 days unlimited ride on bus in Koyasan and return cable car and train back to Namba Station. Key Areas to Walking around Koyasan 1. Daimon Gate (Serving as Koyasan’s main entrance, the Great Gate is a spectacle of design standing nearly 25m tall. The Daimon Gate is the first structure visitors coming up the pilgrimage route see when arriving in Koyasan.) 2. Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex (One of the two sacred sites in Koyasan. The Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex was founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) when he returned to Japan from China as a place where Buddhist monks could peacefully study his newly found Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism. Kondo the central hall of Koyasan, Konpon Daito where enshrines a statue of Dainichi Nyorai (Buddha Mahavairocana) as the main statue.) 3. Kongobuji Head Temple (Koyasan’s head temple. Kongobuji also refers to the entirety of the Koyasan area. It is the main temple for around 4,000 branch temples of the Shingon Esoteric sect of Buddhism.) 4. Okunoin (Koyasan’s most sacred site. Okunoin cemetery is the largest cemetery in Japan stretching 2km long with over 200,000 tombstones. Okunoin is the location of Kobo Daishi Kukai’s Mausoleum, where it is said he still remains today in eternal prayer.) Koyasan maybe not a too heavily-visited area but it’s worth a trip if you are near Osaka and like temples and nature and some quiet time. #koyasan #高野山 #osaka #japan #travel