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One Day in Mount Koya. Feel the Sacredness and Holiness
Joined 2019
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!
Meeting Point
Nankai Koyasan Station or your temple in Mt. Koya
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
guide fee
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
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, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am 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.
Reviews
Gabrielle M.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
“Fabulous day”
Hiro was a wonderful guide for our full day in Kyoto. He is very professional, knowledgeable and we all enjoyed his company. We would throughly recommend him. Thanks Hiro.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for reviewing the tour. It was a perfect day to see the autumn forage in Kyoto. You were blessed by the God, Buddhas and the Shinto deities. I was also blessed to have visited such beautiful places with such nice people like you. Thank you very much once again. Have a safe trip back home.
“Osaka Tour in 1 day!!Brilliant!!”
Hiroyuki is a very good Tour guide and very easy going. He explained everything prior to the trip as well as the day of as well. Very knowledgeable in the history of Japan and went the extra distance to explain the meaning of the Japanese customs. Has a lovely personality and would.definitely recommend him to anyone.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for reviewing the tour. Are you back in Australia now? It was a nice day trip; I enjoyed it myself very much. Hope that every single experience in Japan was good for you including my service in Osaka.
Leanne C.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
“Cultural heritage tour of Kyoto region ”
Thank you to Hiro for a wonderful day visiting many of the culturally significant sites in the Kyoto surrounds. Hiro is a great guide his explanation of the significance of each site was so important to understanding. Hiro was very accommodating and gave us many options to explore. I would definitely recommend Hiro as a guide and certainly this tour if you want to see the most significant sites!!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was a beautiful day, it was the best day to visit temples in Kyoto. I was also lucky that I was able to see such beautiful autumn leaves. I will remember the autumn leaves I saw on this day for a long time until I die.
$275/ per group
More tours by Hiroyuki T.
Osaka Highlights, Best for the first timer
There are a lot of places to visit, a lot of things to do in Osaka. From historical sites to food venders hopping. CHOOSE 3-4 places you want to visit from the list below and let me know. I will customize a tour for you.
Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
There are a lot of Buddhism temples and Shinto Shrines in Kyoto. This tour focuses on three UNESCO World Heritage temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for a lot of red Torii gates and Bamboo Forest in Arashiyma to feel the profundity of Kyoto. If you are interested in the places which are not listed here, like Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Gion, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangen-do, Kiyomizu-dera and others, just let me know, I will customize a tour for you.
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
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.
Cultural Properties in Ancient Capital of Kyoto- from Osaka
In Kyoto, there are a lot of cultural properties. Of them, seventeen temples and shrines are included in World Heritage. On this tour, we will visit some of them from Osaka to feel the profundity and splendor of Kyoto. If you are interested in the places not listed here, for example, if you would like to visit Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Silver Pavilion, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, Sanjusangen-do and others, just let me know. I will customize a tour for you.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Mount Koya
【Okunoin, Garan & Kongobuji】 Private tour
We are a group composed of monks living in Koyasan. We spent long years as monks at temples in Koyasan. We studied Buddhist teachings directly from Buddhist priests of Koyasan and interpreted them to foreigners. Friendly young monks will be happy to explain daily living, training at Koyasan temples that a general public can not see, and important teachings of the esoteric Buddhism.
【Kongobuji & Garan】 Private tour with a Koyasan resident
We are a group composed of monks living in Koyasan. We spent long years as monks at temples in Koyasan. We studied Buddhist teachings directly from Buddhist priests of Koyasan and interpreted them to foreigners. Friendly young monks will be happy to explain daily living, training at Koyasan temples that a general public can not see, and important teachings of the esoteric Buddhism.
Overnight trip to Mt. Koya from Osaka
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. In this tour we will visit Mt. Koya and walk the Women's Pilgrimage
Okunoin＆Ancient pilgrimage trails Lunch with panorama view
“Women Pilgrims Route” is said to be “the most beautiful trail” among the mountain paths around Koyasan. After attending a ritual in Okunoin, we are going to hike some of the “Women Pilgrims Route” that even forest experts recommend. At the end of the tour you will eat local specialties while watching the spectacular panorama of the mountains registered as World Heritage Sites.