Mt Koya (Koyasan) serves as the spiritual center for the Shingon sect of Buddhism, established in Japan in the 9th century by Kobo Daishi. The sacred 2,953-foot-high (900-meter) mountain is dotted with more than 100 Buddhist temples, and many of them offer accommodations. On this day trip, you get to see two of the UNESCO World Heritage site's most revered temples, Okunoin and Danjo Garan.
Meet your guide at Hotel Granvia Osaka or Swisstel Nankai Osaka in the morning and then head to Nankai Namba station. From here take the 1.5-hour journey aboard the Nankai Limited Express train to Gokurakubashi station, where you’ll ride a cable car to Koyasan station, followed by a local bus to the Ichinohashi Tourist Center.
Refuel after all the morning travel with a Japanese-style vegetarian lunch before you follow your guide on foot to Okunoin, Japan's largest cemetery, nestled among towering cedar trees.
Considered the most sacred site for Daishi devotees, Okunoin houses the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi at the end of a 1.5-mile (2-km) cobblestone walkway lined with more than 200,000 monuments and memorials. At Torodo Hall, you get to admire thousands of lanterns casting an ethereal glow in the ancient building.
After about an hour exploring the temple, you’ll take a local bus to another World Heritage site: Danjo Garan. Built at the time Mt Koya was founded, the Buddhist complex consists of 20 temples, pagodas and stupas.
See its most prominent structures like the stunning Konpon Daito, a two-tiered pagoda lacquered in bright red that enshrines the Cosmic Buddha, and an exquisite three-dimensional mandala. Your guide points out the impressive, 160-foot-tall (49-meter) Great Stupa and takes you inside the Kondo (main hall) for a look.
When your 1.25-hour tour of Garan is complete, return with your guide by local bus to Koyasan station and ride the cable car back to Gokurakubashi station. It’s another 1.5-hour trip aboard the Nankai Limited Express train to Nankai Namba station in Osaka, where your day trip ends.
Please note: A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.