Mt. Koya

Koyasan is the place where, more than 1,200 years ago, Kobo Daishi (Kukai) opened the mountain and established Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. While "Koyasan" is also the mountain name, today it most often refers to Kongobu-ji, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect. Since 1929, with the opening of railway and cable-car access, the area became increasingly developed as a tourist destination. From Osaka, you can take the Nankai Koya Line to "Gokurakubashi Station" and then transfer to the Nankai Koyasan Cable Car. From the Nara side, a common route is via "Shin-Osaka Station," then Osaka Metro Midosuji Line to "Namba Station," take the Nankai Koya Line to "Gokurakubashi Station," and then the Nankai Koyasan Cable Car. Because Koyasan has a vast precinct with many points of interest, using the "Nankai Rinkan Bus" makes getting around smooth and easy. Among the highlights, the "Daimon" gate at the entrance of Koyasan, the World Heritage site "Okunoin," and "Danjo Garan," where Kukai built temple buildings during his lifetime, are especially popular sightseeing spots—making it a trip that’s fun to plan. If you buy a "combo ticket" (kyotsuken) that bundles admission for major facilities within Koyasan, you can save a bit on entry fees.