There is a famous Buddhist monk whom most Japanese, including elementary school students, know. His name is Kukai and he was an existential monk from 774 to 835. He went to China in 804 to master Buddhism and founded a new religious sect in Japan after returning in 806.
His accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but building a new temple for his sect in a mountainous region is the deed most known by ordinary Japanese people.
It is the Kongobuji temple, the head temple of Koyasan Shingon, or “mantra,” Buddhism, and is located on Mount Koya in Wakayama prefecture. Surrounded by 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) mountains, its name means Temple of the Diamond Mountain Peak. Kongobuji is part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Okuno-in: A Sacred Place
Kongobuji Temple is known as the ecclesiastic head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism. It is located on Mount Koya, Japan. Being a really big temple, it has 117 related religious buildings, including Okunoin, the mausoleum of Kukai.
This Most Famous Temple of Japan is part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Could Kukai, the Founder of the Temple Still be Alive?
Some devotees wish that Kukai were still alive in the mausoleum, Most Famous Temple of Japan. He succeeded in the attainment of Buddhahood during life and had been praying for all living things inside of the building for more than 1,200 years.
Surprisingly, meals for him are prepared every morning and evening. A high-ranking monk and his followers carry a wooden box containing meals, and only the high-ranked monk, called Ina, can step inside into the place where Kukai might exist. No one knows what happens inside and what sits or lies flat. Such mysterious ceremonial rites, however, create an atmosphere of solemnity around the place.
Okuno-in is a Must-See Destination for International Travelers
The front approach to the mausoleum is also designated as one of the World Heritage Sites. Along the 2-kilometer (1.24-mile) path lined with more than 1000 Japanese cedar trees, about 200,000 graves are densely packed in the woods, including historical feudal warlords and imperial family members.
Broadly speaking, the whole temple site of the Kouya-san mountain is divided into two areas. One is the temple town where a lot of small temples and related buildings are forested, and the other is the sacred cemetery where tons of graves, including one for the founder Kukai, exist.
Both areas attract international travelers, but the latter, Okuno-in, is particularly considered one of the most fantastic destinations in Japan.
A small bridge, the Ichino-hashi bridge, connects the two areas and is the way to reach the entrance to Okuno-in. After walking for 30 minutes, you will find a second small bridge named the Gobyono-hashi bridge. The bridge is the official entrance to the most sacred zone, and you cannot take any pictures after crossing the bridge. Just memorize the scene in your mind.
Many visitors choose to experience Okuno-in and Koyasan’s other sacred sites with a guided tour from Osaka. The Mount Koya Cultural Day Tour includes transportation, an English-speaking guide, walks through the cedar-lined cemetery path to Kukai’s mausoleum, visits to Kongobuji Temple and the Danjo Garan complex, plus traditional Buddhist vegetarian lunch (shojin ryori). Tours handle all the logistics, allowing you to focus on the spiritual atmosphere of this mountain sanctuary.
If You Go
The Koyasan mountain including the Kongobuji temple and Okuno-in is surrounded by mountains in Wakayama prefecture. Wakayama is in the southern part of the Kansai region along with Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, and is close to Kansai International Airport (KIX).
From Kansai International Airport
If you plan to visit while also seeing Okuno-in, you can reach the World Heritage site via a seasonal direct limousine bus from KIX. The bus operates daily from September 1 through November 30 only. The 105-minute ride brings you straight to Koyasan. Check current fares and schedules at the Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise website.
Outside these months, take the train. From KIX, ride the Nankai Airport Line to Tengachaya Station (33-38 minutes), then transfer to the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station at the mountain’s base. From there, a five-minute cable car brings you up to Koyasan Station, where local buses connect to the temple area.
From Kyoto
A direct highway bus runs between JR Kyoto Station and Koyasan from April through November. The 160-minute journey is comfortable and simple, with no transfers required. Seats must be reserved in advance. One-way fares are 2,800 yen (3,000 yen during October-November peak season), with round-trip tickets at 5,100 yen (5,500 yen October-November). Book through Japan Bus Online.
Outside the bus season, take the train via Osaka. From Kyoto Station, ride a JR train to Osaka Station, then transfer to the JR Loop Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. From there, board the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi, then take the cable car up to Koyasan Station.
Getting Around Koyasan
Once you arrive at Koyasan Station, local buses run to the temple area and Okuno-in. The town itself is walkable, though bicycle rentals are available from the Koyasan Shukubo Association’s information center.
Consider the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket if traveling by train. This two-day pass covers round-trip train and cable car fares from Osaka, plus unlimited bus travel on Mount Koya and discounts at major temples.
Helpful Links
Visit the Koyasan Official Site
Wakayama Official Travel Guide
Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.
Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:
- 10 Fascinating Facts About Japan That Most Travelers Miss
- Collecting Goshuin in Japan: A Temple-and-Shrine Journey from Tokyo to Kyoto, Nara and Koyasan
Author Bio: Masayoshi Sakamoto（坂本正敬）is a Japanese writer and translator based in Toyama, Japan. He writes news and columns for a number of publications and web magazines. He’s also preparing to become editor in chief for a new regional online magazine, Hokuroku.
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