High in the northern mountains of Wakayama Prefecture, at an elevation of approximately 800 meters, lies Koyasan—a sacred site of Japanese Buddhism with over 1,200 years of history. Founded by the great monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), the birthplace of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism is still imbued with an atmosphere of quiet reverence and prayer. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Koyasan offers a unique spiritual retreat: an overnight stay at a Buddhist temple where time flows slowly and soulfully, allowing you to restore both body and mind.
More than 50 shukubo (temple lodgings) on Koyasan welcome everyday visitors, making this extraordinary experience surprisingly accessible. Guests stay in simple yet serene tatami-matted rooms, enjoy vegetarian shojin ryori for both breakfast and dinner, and are invited to participate in morning rituals, sutra copying (shakyo), and seated meditation (zazen). Though rooted in monastic discipline, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, embodying the deep devotion and pride of a living spiritual tradition.
The evening meal, shojin ryori, is a refined plant-based cuisine prepared without meat, fish, or pungent ingredients such as garlic and onion. Built around mountain vegetables, tofu, and seasonal delicacies, each dish is visually elegant and spiritually nourishing. Rather than indulgence, the dining experience leaves you with a gentle fullness and a lightness that comes from releasing excess.
As night falls, take a meditative walk through the temple grounds. The softly illuminated structures of Kongobu-ji and the striking pagoda of Danjo Garan offer a glimpse of Koyasan’s sacred silence after dark. Most profound of all is the Okunoin cemetery path—a mystical avenue lined with ancient cedar trees and thousands of stone lanterns. Here, among centuries-old graves, your footsteps echo in the stillness, guided only by gentle lights. This nighttime walk becomes not just a journey through history, but a deeply personal “inner pilgrimage” found only in Koyasan.
As dawn gently breaks, you awaken to the resonant chants of sutras echoing through the temple. By joining the morning service at your shukubo, you are enveloped in the deep tones of the monks’ chanting and the gentle toll of temple bells—sounds that bring a quiet clarity to the soul. This is not sightseeing, but a sensory experience that speaks deeply to those seeking something more—a quiet alignment of spirit and space that lingers long after the journey ends.
Access to Koyasan
Reaching Koyasan is surprisingly smooth, even by public transportation. From Osaka’s Namba Station, take the Nankai Koya Line via limited express or express train to its final stop, Gokurakubashi Station (about 1 hour and 40 minutes). From there, transfer to the cable car for a five-minute ascent to Koyasan Station. A local bus will then take you into the town center. Though it is a journey into the mountains, the seamless connection between train and cable car creates a sense of pilgrimage—an intentional entrance into sacred space.
For those traveling by car, access is available via the Keinawa or Hanwa Expressways, followed by the scenic Koya-Ryujin Skyline. However, be mindful of potential snow and icy roads in winter months, as seasonal conditions can affect driving safety.
Koyasan is not a typical sightseeing destination—it is a place of prayer and reflection. There are no bright lights or busy attractions, only the steady flow of time and the quiet that invites introspection. If you seek to step away from the noise and excess of modern life, this sacred mountain offers the ideal space to pause, breathe, and truly listen to the voice within.