Koyasan

For a day trip, Koyasan is a must-visit location without a doubt! Here, the mausoleum of Kukai is located in the center of Okunoin Cemetery, and over 200,000 tombstones and memorials line the approach to the mausoleum, which is surrounded by tall cedar trees that give the area a calm and ethereal feel.

Koyasan is a sacred site in Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, founded by the famous monk Kukai (also known by his title, Kobo Daishi) in 816, around 1,200 years ago. This area is home to a number of famous sites registered as World Heritage, and welcomes a constant stream of visitors from Japan and overseas.

While walking is a great way to explore, you can also use public transport like the cable car or bus to get around Koyasan easily. If you have time or budget constraints, it is possible to visit Koyasan as a day trip and enjoy it immensely. However, staying for two days and one night is also a wonderful option.

Koyasan is most conveniently accessed by Nankai Railway from Osaka's Namba or Shin-Imamiya stations. Take the Nankai Koya Line from either station to the Gokurakubashi terminal station. A few limited express trains operate directly to Gokurakubashi, which takes about 80 minutes and costs around 1720 yen, with services running every 1-3 hours.

The main attractions in Koyasan include the vast and serene Okunoin Cemetery, which is the site of Kukai's mausoleum and lined with ancient cedar trees and over 200,000 tombstones. Other significant sites include Kongobu-ji Temple, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, and the Garan temple complex, featuring numerous pagodas and halls.