Getting to Koyasan (Mount Koya) is more than a single train ride. It is a journey in five stages — from Osaka by rail, up a mountainside by cable car, and into the town by local bus — that rewards you with one of Japan’s most atmospheric destinations. Whether you are visiting for a temple … Read more
Koyasan (Mount Koya) is one of Japan’s most profound spiritual destinations—the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to the mausoleum of the monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi). But it sits on a forested mountain plateau in Wakayama Prefecture, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Kyoto by public transport. Before you commit … Read more
Koyasan (Mount Koya) is one of Japan’s most atmospheric destinations — a mountaintop temple town that has been the head temple of Shingon Buddhism since the 9th century. Getting there from Osaka takes roughly 2 hours each way by train, cable car, and bus. For most travelers staying in or near central Osaka, a day … Read more
Koyasan — or Mount Koya, depending on which name you come across first — is one of Japan’s most significant spiritual destinations. But what exactly is it, and what should you actually do when you get there? Let’s clear up the biggest confusion first: Koyasan is not a single temple. It’s a high-altitude religious town … Read more