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One Day in Mount Koya. Feel the Sacredness and Holiness

One Day in Mount Koya. Feel the Sacredness and Holiness

Name: Mount Koya Guided Tours
Brand: GoWithGuide
Price: 287 USD
Rating: 5.0 (197 reviews)

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2019

Hiroyuki T.

4.97 / 5

(197 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Mount Koya

English

6 hours

Private tour (only you and Hiroyuki T.)

Up to 10 people

Mt. Koya is a very important part of the World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Mt. Koya is in Wakayama Prefecture and I used to work for Wakayama Prefectural Government as a general manager of Cultural Heritage Division and I was also in charge of the World Heritage Project. I know this sacred mountain very well.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:30 AM

Meeting Point

Nankai Koyasan Station or your temple in Mt. Koya

11:00 AM

Daimon Gate

This 25m high wooden gate marks the official entrance to Mt. Koya. Stand inside are two big statues of Nio Buddha. They have scary faces. Who is Nio? Why does he look scary? I will explain.

11:40 AM

Danjo Garan (Temple Complex which expresses the concept of the Universe)

Stand in Danjo Garan are Konpon Fundamental Pagoda, Golden Hall, Shintoism Shrine, Central Gate, West Pagoda, East Pagoda and other important facilities.

High Priest Kukai tried to express the world of mandala by arranging Konpon Fundamental Pagoda in the center and other important temples and pagodas around it. And expressed inside Konpon Fundamental Pagoda is a 3D mandala.

Mandala is a round picture which represents the universe in Buddhism. I always feel that I am a part of the universe at Danjo Garan. I will tell you why.

12:10 PM

Kongobuji Honzan (Headquarters of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism)

Kongobuji was named so by Kukai when it was constructed in 816. Nowadays the Koyasan Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism has about 4000 affiliated temples throughout Japan and overseas and is headquartered here. Buddhist altar rooms and guest rooms in the temple are beautifully decorated and you can feel the profoundness of Buddhism arts. Many of the existing buildings are the reconstruction of 1862.

01:00 PM

Local Buddhists’ Vegetable Lunch (Shojin Ryori)

Mt. Koya is famous for its vegetarian cuisine which is very well known as “shojin ryori”. Sesame tofu which contains a lot of protein is one of the most famous shojin ryori in Mt. Koya.

If you prefer this, let me know in advance.

02:30 PM

Okuno-in (Inner Sanctuary where people meet High Priest Kukai)

At the end of the pilgrimage path, beyond the uncountable number of tomb stones, there is a mausoleum of Kukai. People believe that Kukai is still alive here to keep meditating. Why are there so many tombs here? Why does Kukai keep meditating at Okuno-in? I will explain.

Ending Point

Nankai Koyasan Station or your temple in Mt.Koya

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

What‘s included

guide fee

What‘s not included

Insurance

Bus fare in Mt. Koya

Entrance fees

Lunch for guests and guide

Tour Important Information

As we will walk for more than two kilometers, comfortable shoes are recommended.

It is cooler in Koyasan than in Osaka by five degrees, be prepared for this cooler weather.

Tours are NOT covered by insurance. Make sure to be covered by your own insurance.

Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch are NOT included in the guide fee.

Direct payment for tickets, lunch and others will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.

Bus ride in Koyasan JPY840 per person plus same amount for guide

Local Buddhists’ Vegetarian Lunch JPY2,700 plus same amount for guide

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 2019

Hiroyuki T.

4.97 / 5

(197 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Hiroyuki T.

Hi!

I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations.

I am very good at cultural heritages.

And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area.

I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government.

I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was a cultural heritage management and international relations professional.

I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.

If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!

Reviews

J K.

5 / 5

Jan 2, 2026

Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer

Jan 2, 2026

Osaka

7 hours

“5 Star Ōsaka Highlights”

This was my family’s first time in Osaka and having Hiro plan a personalized day in the city allowed us to see and experience more than we could have on our own. We navigated the trains and subways easily and enjoyed so much more than just seeing sights as they were given so much more meaning with Hiro’s guidance and knowledge. Hiro was informative, flexible, thoughtful, and patient. Everything you’d ask for in a guide. I highly recommend Hiro.

Hiroyuki T.

Thank you very much for your kind message. I hope that you enjoyed the tour. It was crowed everywhere yesterday. It was nice to give a prayer at a Sumiyoshi Taisha and Shitennoji yesterday as it is a very important custom in Japan to visit a shrine or a temple during on the new year’s days. I wish you and all your family had a happy holiday season for the new year in Japan. Hiro

Michael C.

5 / 5

Jan 2, 2026

Cultural Properties in Ancient Capital of Kyoto- from Osaka

Jan 2, 2026

Osaka

9 hours

“Kyoto Tour from Osaka”

This is my family and I's second visit to Osaka. We again had a tour with Hiro. As always we had a great time with Hiro. He makes it easy for us to understand the local culture and history. He is great and patient with my 8 year old son, who can be a hands full. We definitely contact Hiro when we visit Japan again.

Hiroyuki T.

It was really nice to spend time with you and your family in this area again. Thank you very much. You have experienced hot and humid summer and cold winter in Japan. But you have not experienced spring and autumn in Japan yet. April, May, October and November are best season to visit Japan. Come back to Japan again in the best season. Hope our paths cross again in the future. I also look forward to hearing from your sister. Thank you very much again, Hiro

Celeste N.

5 / 5

Dec 25, 2025

Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest

Dec 25, 2025

Kyoto

8 hours

“Wonderful day with Hiro-san! ”

Hiro was a wonderful guide for Kyoto temples and shrines. He is so knowledgable about each location, so you can fully appreciate the history and meaning of each site. He also knows the places to take amazing pictures. While places have many people, pictures look like you are the only ones there. We had a very tasty lunch at a local ramen spot to fortify us for the afternoon stops. We arrived at the Golden Pavilion right at the sun was setting, and it was magical. Book this tour, you won't be sorry!

Hiroyuki T.

Thank you very much for your kind message. I am glad to know that you liked the tour. Yes, we visited the Golden Pavilion at the right time on a beautiful day. It was the best day to visit it. Are you back in the USA now? There are a lot more to see, a lot more to visit in this area. I hope that our paths cross once again in the future, I wish you all the very best of luck. Hiro