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Day trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka ~ Another world ~
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Joined 2023
There are so many temples on Mount Koya. The famous graveyard is also massive. The scene is mysterious. It takes about two hours by train from Osaka, but you are in another world once you arrive. You can learn about Buddhism in Japan while immersed in a unique atmosphere there. Mt. Koya is the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese esoteric Buddhism. High Priest Kukai founded it and began building temples here. I will explain why the Japanese people love Kukai.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At you hotel lobby
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Osaka
Namba Station
Take the Nankai railway train from Namba or Shinimamiya
Daimon Gate ~ Large Front Gate ~
The entrance to Koyasan. It is one of the few places, along with the cable car station, where you can look down far below. 25 meters high, the gate was rebuilt in 1705 and has been preserved. It is famous for its spectacular sunset view. Once you enter this gate, you will forget you are in high mountains. Yes, this wonderland starts here.
We walk to Danjo garan.
Danjo Garan
The main area of Mt. Koya is called Dnajo Garan, where you can find gates, Buddhist statue halls, pagodas, practice halls, a belfry, and so on. Among them, the Konpon Daito pagoda is particularly eye-catching. Pagodas were considered important in the Shingon sect. Kukai started to build some of those first. Each of them has its stories. I will tell you about some.
Kongobuji: Headquarters of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism
In the past, the entire Mt. Koya area was called the Kongobuji Temple. However, after various changes, this temple was established as the central temple of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and named Kongobuji Temple. Visitors can see historical architecture, a beautiful stone garden, and many masterpieces of painting.
Lunch
Lunch at a temple if you like
Okuno-in ~Kukai has been meditating still now since the 9th century~
Let's walk along the cemetery with a thousand-year-old trees. You will see various types of uncountable graves; some are very old, and some are very funny. At the innermost, there is a mausoleum of Kukai. People believe that Kukai is still making practice here to keep meditating. We visit such a sacred place.
Drop off
Your Hotel or Namba station
Ending Point
At you hotel lobby or the station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
-Guide fee
-Hotel pick-up
-Transportation fee (you and the guide) about 5,500 yen/per person
-Lunch (you and the guide) at the temple about 4,000~6,000/per person, or at a more reasonable restaurant for about 1,200 yen
-Admission fees (you only) 1,000 yen/per person
Tour Important Information
As it is a sacred place, please avoid wearing extremely casual clothes.
There are nice train services from Osaka to Mt. Koya. You can easily get there just by taking one of these trains and cable cars. And already, you are in another world. You will see more foreign tourists than locals. Foreign tourists have taught us that we rarely see such a special place in other countries. Thousand-year-old trees look down on us. You can appreciate the aesthetics in any season.
If you are interested in the Women's Pilgrimage Route, I can arrange for that. Please let me know it.
Available in the all year around
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport.
I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan.
If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Reviews
Luis felipe G.
“Kyoto in a Rush”
With so much to see in beautiful Kyoto we were left with a desire to come back. Shuji, a former History teacher, made our tour memorable. He was very accomodating on our needs and showed us what we were most interested. We were lucky to be in Kyoto at the peak of the fall and had opprtunity to see the autum colors in full blown. Shuji took us to the mecca of the fall where we were amazed at the sights. Thank you for such a memorable tour
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Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, Kyoto has many wonderful places. I'm so sorry there were no time to going to the Kinkakuji Temple. We had to go back to the ship in time. I was very happy to talk about history. I was surprised to see how much you know about Japan. We also enjoyed talking about Ken Follett's novels. If we had more time, I could show you more places. Yes, please come back to Japan again. Thank you so much for the fun time!
Shannon L.
“Excellent guide and experience”
Shuji took my group on two day trips for Osaka: Nara and Himeji Castle. They absolutely loved Shuji and I appreciated his quick replies to messages; it was very easy to work with him. Highly recommend, and I'll be using Shuji again for other trips in that area.
Shuji O.
Thank you so much for kind words. I thought we would miss the best time to see the fall leaves, but we still enjoyed them. In Nara, deer greeted us as if they were old friends. We went to a lot of really pretty places, like the Isuien Garden. It was so comfortable there. Himeji Castle was also stunning, and we were able to visit and relax there. We were lucky because there weren't many visitors. We could also use the nice restaurant. Thank you for the nice gifts. Yes, I want to travel with you all again!
David B.
“A Wonderful Autumn Day in Kyoto”
My wife and our friend spent a wonderful day with Shuji walking throughout eastern Kyoto. He patiently worked with me ahead of time to tweak his standard Eastern Kyoto walking tour itinerary, responding promptly to all messages and making helpful suggestions. On the day of the tour, he arrived promptly at our hotel and ably led us on our adventure. Highlights (for me) included the off-the-beaten-path Komyo-in Temple, with its lovely dry landscape garden and its stunning art exhibit upstairs, as well as a visit to the Sanjūsangen-dō Temple with its 1001 Kannon sculptures (plus another one, that Shuji will show you) and 28 incredible guardian deity sculptures. Throughout the day, Shuji provided background information, patiently answered questions, took pictures, and was always ready to make adjustments as needed. All in all, a delightful experience!
Shuji O.
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, it was a really wonderful day. I hadn't expected to see fall foliage, thinking it would be a little early. But we could enjoy them very much already. We could choose a secret route to avoid the crowd, for the sake of your agreement. The tour was comfortable, and the weather was nice. We don't often have such a nice day. Thank you so much!
$257/ per group
More tours by Shuji O.
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Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
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Bamboo grove and Arashiyama area, three World Heritages.
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The best of Kyoto, tailored to your requests.
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Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
Nara: the must-see place in Japan. Nara was the capital of ancient Japan before Kyoto became the capital. In the Nara era, Buddhism played an important role in stabilizing the country. So you can see many big old temples there. Many of these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are concentrated in a small area. So, if you have only one free day to spend in the Kansai area, I highly recommend visiting Nara.
Visiting Nara from Osaka ～truly the must-see place in Japan～
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Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Since there are so many beautiful places densely in eastern Kyoto, we can take a walking tour there. Please add or skip some. This is an example of a walking tour in eastern Kyoto, emphasizing history and culture. We will use the train only once or twice.
Walking tour in Eastern Kyoto
Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Kyoto
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Charming must -see in north west area of Kyoto city
This tour covers 4 must-see sightseeing spot . Firstly, we visit the golden pavilion. We go to Arashiyama. We walk through Tenryuji garden and bamboo forest. In the afternoon, we'll visit Nijo castle. (We enjoy watching a live demonstration of Japanese sweet making with green tea(Mattcha).Finally you can learn about Kyoto’s traditional and wonderful kimono
Charming must -see in north west area of Kyoto city
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Kyoto East Highlights – From Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu Temple
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Kyoto East Highlights – From Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu Temple
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Customized Private Tour in Kyoto
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Western Kyoto Tour
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Western Kyoto Tour
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