Begin your journey at Ichinohashi Bridge, the symbolic boundary between the secular and sacred worlds. Follow your guide along a stone-paved path lined with towering cedar trees and thousands of moss-covered gravestones. Learn about the history of Koyasan, the teachings of Shingon Buddhism, and the deep reverence that has drawn pilgrims here for over a millennium.

In the morning option, walk through the stillness of dawn as soft light filters through the forest and mist drifts among the trees, revealing a landscape that feels timeless and contemplative. The air is cool, the ground is damp with dew, and the tranquility of the mountain heightens the sense of connection to the sacred.

In the night option, the same path transforms into a world illuminated by hundreds of lanterns that line the route, their warm light casting gentle reflections on the stone monuments and cedar trunks. The scent of incense lingers faintly in the air, and each step echoes softly in the silence, evoking a feeling of timeless devotion.

Both options lead to Gobyobashi Bridge, where photography and the use of electronic devices are strictly prohibited, marking the entrance to the most sacred area that houses the Mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. Here, your guide explains why this site is not regarded as a tomb but as a place of living faith, where followers believe that Kobo Daishi continues to meditate and pray for all beings.

Learn about the thousands of memorials surrounding the mausoleum, dedicated by those who wished to rest near him in anticipation of the arrival of Miroku Bosatsu, the Buddha of the future. After offering a moment of quiet reflection, return toward Ichinohashi, listening to your guide share the legend that Kobo Daishi silently accompanies visitors back to this bridge, seeing them off from the sacred grounds.