Our licensed and experienced multilingual guides will help you efficiently enjoy a one-day tour of UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, Mt. Koya. Go on a full-day guided walking tour of Mt. Koya and learn about the modern and traditional aspects of one of the world’s most sacred mountains! If you are staying in Osaka but would like to take some time out to enjoy some sights outside the big city, then this tour of Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture is for you! Meet your guide at your hotel (in Osaka, Kyoto, Wakayama, or around the Kansai area), then head to Mount Koya. Your guide will customize your full-day tour in detail according to your interests.
Highlights
Explore the Sacred Mt. Koya in 8 Hours!
Choose 3-4 sites from the list below!
Guided by english speaking guide!
Duration
8 hours
Offered in
English
What is included
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from the list
Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Osaka
What is not included
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private Vehicle
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Start time
7:00 am
Explore the sacred Mt. Koya for 8 hours, where you can tailor your experience by choosing 3-4 sites from a curated list of fascinating locations. Whether you're drawn to spiritual landmarks, peaceful temples, or tranquil natural spots, this journey allows you to immerse yourself in the rich history and serene beauty of the area. Take your time to explore at your own pace, enjoying the quiet atmosphere and deep cultural significance of each selected site, ensuring a meaningful and memorable experience.
You can choose 3-4 sites from the list below!
Koyasan Okunoin
Important Notice: The access to the Okunoin Torodo (Lantern Hall) will be suspended due to the restoration work from November 18th, 2024, to End of August 2025. The heart of Mt. Koya. Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan, rests here. Also, many prominent personalities' graves line by the approach to Okunoin for several hundred meters through the forest. Your guide will explain interesting stories about those historical characters.
Kongobu-ji Temple
The main headquarters for the Shingon Sect, which has 4,000 temples throughout Japan and more than 10 million followers worldwide. Visitors can see religious artifact, fusuma sliding door paintings, as well as a beautiful rock garden representing two dragons flying amongst the clouds.
Koyasan Danjo Garan
One of the two most sacred sites in Mt. Koya. In the 9th century, Mt. Koya was founded on this very ground. At that time, Kobo Daishi held a groundbreaking ceremony and then dedicated his life to the construction of Danjo Garan. This sacred area consists of nearly twenty different structures including the magnificent Konpon Daito. Your guide will tell you the meaning of these structures.
Reihokan Museum
The Reihokan Museum (霊宝館, Reihōkan) was built to house and preserve the religious and cultural treasures of Koyasan. The museum's entrance hall is styled after Byodoin Temple in Uji, and it has three exhibition halls for both permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Daishi Kyokai
Daishi Kyokai (大師教会, Daishi Kyōkai) is the administrative center of Shingon Buddhism, and is responsible for spreading the teachings of Kobo Daishi, the sect's founder. The complex consists of two buildings: Henjoden, a traditional temple hall, that was built in 1915 and is dedicated to Kobo Daishi, and a modern building for administration, lectures and training.
Tokugawa Mausoleum
The Tokugawa Mausoleum (徳川家霊台, Tokugawa-ke Reidai) on Koyasan was built in 1643 by the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu in order for his family to have a mausoleum close to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum. It consists of two buildings which enshrine Iemitsu's grandfather Ieyasu and father Hidetada, the first two Tokugawa shogun.
JGA
