What to know
Koyasan (高野山, Kōyasan) is the spiritual heart of Shingon Buddhism, a major Buddhist school introduced to Japan in 805 by Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai), one of the country's most revered religious figures. A small, secluded temple town grew around the sect's headquarters, which Kobo Daishi established on Koyasan's forested mountaintop. It also houses his mausoleum and marks both the start and end of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
After years of wandering Japan in search of the ideal location for his teachings, Kobo Daishi began building the original Garan temple complex in 826. Since then, over a hundred temples have lined the streets of Koyasan. The most significant among them are Kongobuji, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, and Okunoin, the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.
Koyasan is also one of the best places to experience an overnight temple lodging (shukubo), where you can sample a monk's lifestyle—enjoying vegetarian Buddhist cuisine (shojin ryori) and attending morning prayers. Around fifty temples offer this service to both pilgrims and tourists.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Koyasan Tourist Association
- Original name
- Koyasan (Mount Koya)
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.