Located in a remote wooded area of Wakayama Prefecture, south of Kyoto and Osaka, Kōyasan (高野山) was founded in the year 816 AD by a monk named Kukai (posthumously named Kobo Daishi), one of Japan’s most significant religious figures. Koyasan is the headquarters of the Shingon school of Buddhism, and home to more than 100 temples and monasteries. It is also the site of Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum and the start and end point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
Staying overnight at one of the many temples offering accommodations is an experience of a lifetime. All visitors are welcome, and not only can you see the inner workings of Shingon monastic life, you can also take part in prayer services. You can also enjoy a shojin-ryori meal, a vegetarian Buddhist cuisine made entirely of seasonal vegetables and edible wild plants. Specialties include koya dofu and its sesame-flavored relative, goma dofu.
For over 1,200 years Koyasan has been one of Japan’s most sacred sites. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.
Kyoto
Travel Time: 2 1/2 Hours
With JR Rail Pass: $220.00 per person based on double occupancy
Without JR Rail pass: $250.00 per person based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $86.00
Osaka
Travel Time: 1 1/2 Hours
With JR Rail Pass: $220.00 per person based on double occupancy
Without JR Rail pass: $220.00 per person based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: $86.00
Inclusions