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One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
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
At your hotel or Nankai Namba Station
- In the lobby of your hotel in downtown Osaka or Namba Tourist Information Center on the ground floor of Nankai Namba station It will be okay to meet at 9:30 as well.
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 picture which expresses the universe in Buddhism. I always feel that I am a part of the universe at Danjo Garan. I will tell you why.
Local Buddhists’ Vegetable Lunch (Shojin Ryori)
Mt. Koya is famous for its vegetarian cuisine which is very well known as “shojin ryori”. If you prefer this, let me know in adavance.
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.
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
TBD (Nankai Namba 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
guiding fee
Insurance
Transportation fee(you and guide)
Between Namba Station and Koyasan JPY4,360 for round trip per person plus same amount for guide
Bus ride in Koyasan JPY840 per person plus same amount for guide
Entrance fee
Koyasan Buddhists’ Vegetarian Lunch; from JPY2,700 per person and same amount for 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 for you and guide are NOT included in the guide fee.
Direct payment for these cost will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
Transportation fare Between Namba Station and Koyasan JPY4,360 for round trip per person plus same amount for guide
Bus ride in Koyasan JPY840 per person plus same amount for guide
Koyasan Buddhists’ Vegetarian Lunch from JPY2,700 per person and 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.
$276/ per group
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