Obviously - this place wasn't built to be a tourist destination, but if it was - it could not have been built any better. What an outstanding place to visit, so peaceful and serene. We visited on a wet and misty afternoon in February which for me - made it all the better.

Spectacular walk through the forested cemetery. The towering, ancient trees are a sight in themselves. Best to visit at dusk to feel the peace, magic and spiritual energy of the place. We were lucky that rain meant we were mostly alone, and made the majesty and mystery even better. Faithful or not, it's worth the visit.

Really like the peaceful atmosphere! Trees there are tall and green. After snowing, we walk lightly along the trail, feeling relaxed and comforting. Especially recommend visit here at sunset, all stone-lanterns light up, with the snow falling, it’s breathtaking.

Breathtaking cemetery and spiritual place. Located in the middle of a centenary forest with huge trees of 200-600 years old among ancient tombs and mausoleums, it goes for kilometers following multiple paths. It is great to explore and find the paths into the forest. If you start from the town you'll find the shrine at the end, and if you come from the forest path, at the beginning. Either way this was to me the most authentic temple in Japan, where monks live and conduct rituals and hipnotic prayers with other people. The house of the lanterns is amazing, so it is the tower of Buddhas accumulated during the centuries. To make it more special at night it is illuminated by stone lanterns.

My favorite place in Japan! I've been 5 times… I recommend staying at least 2 days!

The cemetery is huge! Such a peaceful place built to commune with nature.

Full of history and very interesting corporate grave plots. There is also Hideyoshi’s memorial site just off the main pathway

One of my favorite places on Earth. It's an oasis of nature and tranquility like only a cemetery can be. The funeral is stunning and constantly evoked all sorts of feelings. I spent my entire afternoon here when I visited Koya, happily watching history unfold as the paths and architecture evolve over the centuries to tell the stories of the Buddhist monks buried there. Fun fact: During my entire walk through this cemetery I couldn't but remember my playthrough of Dark Souls.

Really enjoyed the fresh air and the interesting old moss covered tombs and statues along the walking trail in this historically and spiritually significant cemetery. Surrounded by tall green trees, this place is beautiful by day although I can see it being eerie at night. The small dirt paths that branch off from the main trail also have several untouched and old statues along them. The sheer number of tombs in this place is baffling.

Nice stroll through the nature with good preserved graves. On the way back you will find some graves or more known people from Japan. You can recognize them quite easily looking at the brand names.

Okunoin Cemetery is a sacred and historic site located in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Koyasan, or Mount Koya, is a mountainous area that serves as the headquarters of the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism. The cemetery is an integral part of Koyasan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cemetery is vast and houses the graves of over 200,000 people, including samurai, monks, and notable historical figures. Many of the tombstones are elaborately adorned, and some belong to prominent individuals from various periods of Japanese history. Okunoin is considered one of the holiest places in Japan and is a deeply spiritual site. It is the mausoleum of Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and a revered figure in Japanese religious history. Free parking and entry either day or night.

Creapy and beautiful at the same time. A very old Cemetery with a run down feel to it, where nature is taking over. After 20 min walking you will discover a mesmerizing temple where pictures are not allowed. Recommend to walk the trail around sunset.

A walk immersive walk into a Buddhist burial site. You can feel the atmosphere of time by watching old tombs and ruins. However there are few new tombs that have corporate names on it. Not sure the meaning of that, but if you pass through that it is an enjoyable walk

This is one of the most beautiful places in Japan. The mighty cedar tress, moss, and the tomb stones look very surreal. The place has some energy. It was very calming and wonderful.

This cemetery was on top of my itinerary for Japan and it did not dissapoint! It was fantastic to just stroll through the cemetery forest and admire the thousants of tomb stones, moss covered graves and trees. The cemetery path led us up to the Oko-no-In temple, all the way from Kouyasan centre. It has almost like a magical feel to it, especially around dusk, when the lanterns come on. This place is highly recommended to visit. Something you will never forget.

Great scenic walk too calm your mind. I came during the fog which greatly enhance the ancient atmosphere as well. Awesome!

4 people stayed for 1 night in September 2023. Very pleasant experience, very relaxing atmosphere and we were made to feel welcome by the staff. The evening meal and breakfast made for a unique dining experience and attending the Buddhist ceremony in the morning was fascinating. The monk conducting the service spoke first in Japanese but also spoke excellent English which gave us foreigners some context and understanding for the ceremony. We also had time in the evening to attend the night time cemetery tour conducted from nearby Eko-in temple. Eko-in seems to be the premier place for this sort of stay in Koyasan, but I would recommend Joki-in for any travelers on more of a budget, you still very much get the same sort of experience.

Wonderful temple! We stayed in room 1 (private bath). It was much larger than we were ezpecting! Very clean as well. Being able to take part in the morning prayers is a once in a lifetime experience (6am). The staff are very kind and do speak English pretty well. The food is very delicious, traditional and vegetarian. We loved all of it! Fantastic place to stay if visiting Koyasan.

One of the best experiences in Japan! It’s a temple stay having the following highlights : 1. Morning Prayer in the temple 2. Vegetarian food which is the same as what the monks have 3. English speaking service 4. Amazing room with Kotatsu 5. Tea ceremony set They have shared bathrooms Also, one can use public large bath and/or small private bath which has fixed timings. Accidentally got to chat with the head priest a couple of times.

Good for 1 night stay in the Koyasan region. Good for pilgrim. You wake up at 5 am, and go pray with the monks. Be careful it's cold there in the night. It's on the top of the mountain. Very nice region for hikes, by the way. They have Onsen but it's only available in the evening. They have a private shower and bath tub, but it's only one shared among everyone in the temple, and only accessible in the morning. The beds and food are served like in a Ryokan. Overall our experience was good. I recommend it.

Lovely experience. Keep in mind this is a temple stay and not a hotel. You'll get dinner and breakfast, both traditional Japanese and vegetarian. You will sleep on a tatami floor and bathrooms are shared. You have an option of Sutra copying. Overall it was a special and unique experience.

At first I was worried it would be awkward to stay in a functioning Buddhist temple...but it seems you have minimal interaction with the monks. There are seperate, kind staff who deal with us tourist folk. There was a great kerosene heater and a kotatsu in our room. At the morning service we were welcomed warmly by the master monk and watched in awe (again next to a heater) and breakfast soon after also had a heater. I emphasis the heater because if you are staying in the cooler months it will be FREEZING everywhere else in the temple!

To those who are aspiring to work here in Jokiin: I worked here for a few days. The coworkers and guests were very nice, but the employer was not. ・She screamed at me for not doing tasks that I hadn't been told to do. She wouldn't listen to me explaining that I didn't even know how to do them. ・She accused me of doing jobs in the wrong way no matter how much I explained that it was how a senior worker had told me to do them. ・Meals for workers are extremely poor. (Almost only carbs.) You can't survive with them, but you are not allowed to cook by yourself. ・When I asked the employer to lessen noise at night around workers' dorms, her answer was like "You should quit the job if you say such a stupid thing." ・They won't pay overtime wages (unless you claim VERY strongly). ・They decide on work shifts without caring about your schedule and abruptly and unilaterally change them on the very previous day. (They even don't notify you!) ・Free Wi-Fi is unstable. ・When you quit the job, you have to leave your dorm the next day. The positive aspects are that the dorms are clean and that other staff members and guests are very kind. Staff members can use public bath or shared private shower room. At the end, they paid me overtime wages and transportation expenses (as a result of fighting). Of course, the building and the environment are super beautiful. If you want to experience bad Japanese culture, it is recommended to work here. I think I can say this is a good place for guests, but it was very sad to know that people were working in such harsh and stressful conditions in such a beautiful Buddhist place.

It was a great experience. Do keep in mind that this is a temple. I would recommend the rooms with windows towards the garden. In winter, it was quite cold outside the room. So an en suite bathroom can be worth it.

Had such an amazing experience staying here with my partner. We stayed 2 nights and were lucky enough to get a room that was directly facing the garden. Beautiful view and we didn’t feel like we were encroaching on the monks at all. The bedding was more than enough to keep us warm in November, and we only needed to use the heater whilst reading prior to dinner and bed. The food was exotic and delicious, and there was so much of it! Heaps of rice to fill you up if you needed, and great variety of vegetarian food. The service at 0630 was very insightful. Overall an amazing experience and cannot recommend it more.

Great experience! Koyasan is really beautiful. Price for room is a bit high, but worth it because of the total Kyosan Buddha experience.

We stayed for one night, the rooms are big and spacious. We slept comfortably. The public bath is nice and there wasn’t anyone there when we went. And although both the dinner and the breakfast are quite different than what we are used to we aren’t picky eaters so we tried it all and actually enjoyed most of it.

We stayed one night at Joki-in temple (March 2023). The room was fine : decent size, beds on tatami, no window, a bit cold at night but there is a kerosene heater if you are not afraid to use it. Unfortunately, the food wasn’t to our taste at all (mostly cold with watery or vinegary taste). We received a rather cold reception from the monk. The morning prayer length 30’, nothing was explained. There is a curfew at 22:00. To be honest, this experience was disappointing. I don’t think it match up with the exorbitant price (350€ / 1 night, 3 persons).

This is one of the temple complex. And you can enjoy to visit a historical buildings. Oh, by the way, they serve brief tea service for visitors. Late 2020, one of the famous Japanese monochrome painter Senju produced two great sliding door paintings. You can not only see them, but you can take a photo!!

2005年。あの時、19歳の僕は四国遍路をしました。大学生の冬休み、GW、夏休みの3回に分けて、お遍路を敢行しました。大学生の当時、生きる意味が分からなくなったのです。今振り返れば、当時の世相にどっぷり浸かっていた1面もあったでしょう。はい、2000年代初頭に流行っていた、「自分探しの旅」とか、「あなたは今、幸せですか？」とか。今ではあまり聞かれなくなったフレーズかもしれませんが、当時は良く流行っていた懐かしい価値観です。当時も色々と考えたつもりですが、結局それはその時々で、答えを見つけていくことなのでしょう。納経書のうち、高野山だけが空白のままでした。本当は八十八箇所を結願した後に、行くべきだったのですが、時機を逸してしまい、いつかはと思いながら、時間だけが過ぎていきました。この度、高野山へ参拝できました。当時の思いや考えたこと、四国の自然やお接待のありがたさに感動したこと、すべてのお寺を回った達成感や感動を、鮮明に思い出すことは難しいのですが、お大師さんに、感謝を伝えたいと思います。 (Translated by Google) Year 2005. At that time, I was 19 years old and went on a pilgrimage to Shikoku. I went on the pilgrimage three times during university students' winter vacation, Golden Week, and summer vacation. When I was in college, I lost the meaning of life. Looking back now, I think there was a part of me that was completely immersed in the social conditions of the time. Yes, there were songs that were popular in the early 2000s, such as "Journey of self-discovery" and "Are you happy now?" It may not be a phrase that is heard much anymore, but it is a nostalgic value that was popular at the time. I thought I thought about a lot of things at the time, but in the end it's all about finding the answer at the right time. Of the bills, only Koyasan remained blank. I was actually supposed to go after praying at the 88 temples, but I missed the opportunity, and time passed by, wondering if it would ever happen again. This time, I was able to visit Mt. Koya. It is difficult to vividly recall my thoughts and thoughts at that time, how I was moved by the nature of Shikoku and the hospitality we received, and the sense of accomplishment and excitement I felt after visiting all the temples, but I would like to express my gratitude to Daishi. I would like to tell you.

A designated National Treasure built in the Edo period, Kongobuji Temple at Koyasan is more than just another place of spiritual worship. The larger purpose of the temple is to serve as the headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect, founded by the monk Kobo Daishi, whose mausoleum can be found at nearby Okunoin Temple. Koyasan dates back to 816 and Kongobuji Temple was built in 1593, then rebuilt in 1863. While it is architecturally satisfying from the outside, take off your shoes and step through the doors and you'll be rewarded by Kongobuji Temple's beautiful interior. We were also able to view the Koya Fire Festival (Spring ceremony for the opening of the climbing season at Mt. Koya, and the Buddhist rite of cedar-stick burning) 🔥

I must say I love Japanese gardens and this one is unique, There are a lot of stone and rocks and is way bigger than than other I seen before. Now in autumn is even prettier. Those are quiet times in japan, there are no tourist from overseas and this places are almost empty. Beautiful place to visits in you time In koyasan

Paid sight seeing area, but it's worth it. Amazing traditional architecture and garden. (cannot photograph interior artwork)

2023年11月に訪れました。 紅葉の季節でとても色鮮やかな景色世界遺産に、相応しいと大きな沢山の樹木(杉や、欅など)に驚きました。 立派なウンチクは行けばわかりますので割愛しますが、たくさんの有名な武将や会社などがあります。 シーズンが良いと、確実にランチ難民になりますので事前の調査と準備が必要と思います。 車で行けばそれなりにラクてすが、夕方は渋滞です。バイクならスイスイといけますが、観光バスもありと想います。 (Translated by Google) Visited in November 2023. I was surprised to see so many large trees (cedar, zelkova, etc.) that the scenery was very colorful during the fall foliage season, which befits a world heritage site. I won't go into details about the fine examples of unchiku, as you can easily see them once you've been there, but there are many famous military commanders and companies. If the season is good, you will definitely be a lunch refugee, so I think it is necessary to research and prepare in advance. It's fairly easy to get there by car, but traffic is congested in the evening. You can easily get there by bike, but I think sightseeing buses are also an option.

We visited here in snowing day, atmosphere here is peaceful, making us feeling relaxed. Especially the garden, which is full of Zen.

A very beautiful place to go and see Japanese architecture at its finest. These temples are so amazing and the beautiful colour is awe inspiring. When entering the temples don't forget to take off your shoes. You can also get tokens for luck as well as monks to sign your book if you want. I loved being here.

One of the most ancient building, the arts of interior and paintings are all remarkable and several famous historical events also took place here, a must visit place while you are here.

日帰りで行きました。 大門から金剛峯寺まで歩きました、子連れで15分ぐらいです。 途中コンビニ、飲食、カフェ（猿田彦コーヒー）等があり楽しめます。 紅葉時期でとても綺麗でした、国内外の観光客で賑わっていました。 大門前のお饅頭屋さん【南峰堂】はつきたてでとても美味しいです。 無料駐車場が至る所にありますが中々空きがありません、役場駐車場が比較的空いているのでお勧めです。 (Translated by Google) I went on a day trip. I walked from the Daimon gate to Kongobuji Temple, which took about 15 minutes with my child. There are convenience stores, restaurants, cafes (Sarutahiko Coffee), etc. along the way. It was very beautiful during the autumn leaves season, and it was crowded with domestic and foreign tourists. The manju shop in front of the Daimon gate, Nanpodo, is freshly made and very delicious. There are free parking lots everywhere, but there aren't many spaces, so we recommend the parking lot at the town hall, which is relatively empty.

Very good experience to learn shingo buddhism intorduced by kobo daishi. 1000 yen to enter and see more sights but you can't take pictures in the inside, only the outer area like the rocks and greenery.

Kongobu-Ji is a very nice temple complex which is considered the original center of Shingon Buddhism. The temple complex and garden are very well kept and there is a tour that leeds you past a large number of very beautiful sliding doors that tell the story of Kukai. In the back there is a beautiful rock garden that is worth a visit as well. There is an entrance fee of 1000yen but it's worthwhile.

The temple has not drawn a lot of visitors maybe I went during weekday. However due to the less crowd the temple vicinity is peaceful, serenity and fill with full of Zen arena. It is a good place to pay a visit but not a good place for photo taking.

Well maintained and preserved temple with lots of interesting features like an old temple kitchen, decorated doors or a classic rock garden. The entrance was 1000yen so it's cheap but probably worth visiting if you are in Koya.

Great place to visit in Koyasan. The surrounding gives a peaceful vibe and calmness to people for relaxation.

A special place. The rock garden is amazing and the story behind it is inspiring. Set amongst a whole town, richly steeped in Buddhist history.

The Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex can be described as the center of Koyasan, which was opened by Kukai (aka Kobo Daishi) as a place for secret training in Shingon esoteric Buddhism. Several temples are located inside the Danjo Garan, and the 49-meter tall Great Stupa is of an especially splendid and impressive scale.

You have to be here to feel the peace of mind. This is not something VR or Google Street could replace.

Hope next time can stay here longer, peaceful place

Gorgeous temple complex in the center of Kouyasan with a stunning 50m tall pagoda, which is really impressive. Every temple had it's own entrance fee but there was nobody to collect it, you just have to put it in a box. Just be respectful and pay the fee when you are entring. It's a place where you can enjoy the peace and quiet and the nature surrounding the coplex. We loved coming here.

Hiking up Mt Koya, especially from Kudoyama Station is one of my favorite hiking trails in the area. The hike is about 21km from Kudoyama to the shrine at the top. Half-way there is a little shop and vending machines, so one doesn’t need to carry much at all. There are also shops in Kudoyama. At the top, there is a beautiful shrine and the temples are one of the most beautiful ones I’ve seen in Japan. Make sure to go on to see the weird cemetery as well which is behind the temple and the town. It’s a huge cemetery and if you want to see it, it will altogether add another 5km, but it’s worth it. From the top, you can easily get on a bus anywhere which will bring you back to the Nankai Koya Line.

A great, peaceful, magic Place!

We visited here in snowing day, atmosphere here is peaceful, making us feeling relaxed.

Such an amazing peaceful place. This is my second time here and it gets better every time. The temples and shrines around here are beautiful to look at!

Most amazing temple complex we have seen in our 3 weeks travel to Japan!

Probably my favorite day of 9 months travelling the world (This .complex of temples and the cemetery combined). It was windy, cold and raining hard - probably why we had the place to ourselves in mid February 2023. There was also a heavy mist but for me - this only added to the amazing and serene experience. So many temples in one place, if this had been Kyoto - it would be cram packed with people. If feel so lucky to have experienced the complex solo, with just my thoughts and my umbrella!

Very serene and peaceful. Was a pleasure just walking around alone and thinking about life in general. A must visit if you are in Koyasan.

We wandered around the surroundings. It was a thoroughly enchanting experience. The whole place showcases the majesty of both Japanese nature, traditions and history. The entire place is like a giant bonsai garden. I couldn’t stop taking pictures

The main gate to Koyasan, was rebuilt in 1705. It is a multistoried tower gate that stands 25.1 meters high. The statues of the guardian gods at both sides of the gate were made by Buddhist sculptors Koi and Uncho during the Edo period. The gate is also a place where beautiful sunsets can be viewed and is lit up at night, creating a mystical spectacle.

Good start point for your pelgrim route hike. It can be the finish point as well if you walk it the other way around. The structure is impressive, but unfortunately not too easy to photograph in a beautiful way

An impressive gate. At the far end of the town but worth the walk.

Massive gate at the entrance to Koyasan. Very beautiful view over the mountains as well.

This is the main gate of Koyasan - Iconic large gate! Very beautiful. There’s a small trail to go to other side (Nyonindo) if you have time...

Stunning gate entrance to Koya with great views !

Very grand structure, hard to capture the size in photos. If you are in koyasan it's definitely worth the visit. Easily accessible via a short work from the city centre. As an added benefit there is also good views across the road from the gate.

Beautiful views s of The Valley. The gate is huge and very impressive The autumn leaf give a extra attractive Those are quiet times in japan, there are no tourist from overseas and this places are almost empty. Beautiful place to visits in you time In koyasan

When staying at Koyasan, Daimon is accessable by city bus. It is lit up at night, and the scenery across from it is very nice at sunset.

Impressive gate at entrance to Koyasan. Very imposing and grand!

An enormous gate with very intricate details.

Such a beautiful and mysterious place.

It takes around 2 hours from namba, and it will be much more easier if you buy “kansai thru pass” ticket in advance since it covers everything including ropeway and bus at koyasan. Very nice and clean city, but not so many shops around.

I'm afraid of heights but I felt safe in the cable car. There are a few seats but it is mostly standing room only. There is a lift at the station for anyone who has difficulty with stairs. A great deal of the facilities at Koyasan (including the station and restrooms) are designed to be wheelchair accessible. Also, I was able to travel on the cable car using my ICOCA card (same as PASMO/SUICA). Side note: The buses at Koyasan do not accept those travel cards so take cash or buy a day pass at the bus terminal directly outside Koyasan Station :)

Quiet cable car top station. If you have time go upstairs to the lounge and see the beautiful panorama of the mountains. You can also see a small exhibition about the history of the cable car. There is only one small shop on the ground level. Better go to the city by bus, because pedestrians are not allowed on the bus route which is very curvy.

Super efficient. The bus times at the top and the train times at the bottom line up. July 2017 schedule is in the photo with times from and to Namba station

Run so smoothly! Everyone from the bus driver to the station management are 100% helpful to foreigners and local visitors alike. I was able to catch some very tight train/cable car/bus connections only because every member of the staff were fast, efficient and helpful. I was given maps, suggested visiting spots, and literally hand-held to buy my bus day-pass within a matter of two minutes! The coin locker worked perfectly for storing my carry-on sized suitcase as I explored Koyasan for the day. Ah! Perfect station! If only the whole world were run so smoothly.

It was a short ride going up and the seats were a little hard but what a view!

Very nice station masters! Beautiful, small station. The cable car is a quick ride with beautiful views and so much fun!