Tours
›
Day Trip

One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.

Day Trip

Osaka

English

10 hours

Private tour (only you and your group)

Up to 15 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.

Hiroyuki T.

4.94 / 5

(89 reviews)

08:00 AM

Meeting Point

At your hotel in Osaka or Kansai International Airport

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.

11:30 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 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.

12:30 PM

Local Buddhists’ Vegetable Lunch (Shojin Ryori)

Mt. Koya is famous for its vegetarian cuisine which is very well known as “shojin ryori”.

01:50 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.

02:50 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

At your hotel in Osaka or Kansai International Airport or your shukubo in Mt. Koya (I can finish the tour at your temple in Mt. Koya so that you will be able to stay overnight in Mt. Koya).

Want to personalize this tour?

Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
Click below to tell us what you are looking for:

Request a Tour

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

guide fee,hotel pick up in Down Town Osaka or Kansai International Airport

What‘s not included

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 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

Important message from the guide

I am based in Wakayama and Osaka, but I will guide you around the country upon your requests. However, I will have to ask you to bear my transportation (and accommodation cost, if necessary).

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

Osaka Tour Reviews

Soraya C.

5 / 5

Apr 15, 2024

Zen & Pure Land Gardens in Kyoto, Ryoanji, Kinkakuji & more

Kyoto

8 hours

Apr 15, 2024

“Excellent tour of Kyoto”

We are a family from South Africa with 2 boys aged 13 and 10. We have just completed our tour with Hiroyuki. He was punctual, very professional , knowledgeable and flexible to our needs. We saw all the sites we wanted to and more including the Tori gates , Arashiyama, the market and we ended the tour with a Tea ceremony with a Meiko. He explained the significance and history of all the sites very well and was patient with the boys.Highly recommended

Hiroyuki T.

(89 reviews)

It was really nice meeting such a wonderful family like you today in Kyoto. I hope that you enjoyed the history and culture of Kyoto. As I explained, Japan is very beautiful in autumn. Please come back to Japan in autumn next time. There are a lot more that I want to show you. Thank you very much and have a nice trip.

Sharon L.

5 / 5

Apr 15, 2024

Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Kyoto - from Osaka

Osaka

9 hours 30 min

Apr 15, 2024

“Great day in Kyoto!”

We had a great day trip going from Osaka to Kyoto on our 12-hour cruise stopover. Hiroyuki met us at Osaka port early in the morning, guided us through all the public transportation transfers, and showed us around Kyoto seamlessly on a very busy day in the city. I don’t know how we would’ve done this ourselves without his expertise. Thank you for a great time!

Norman H.

5 / 5

Apr 12, 2024

Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Kyoto - from Osaka

Kyoto

9 hours

Apr 12, 2024

“very knowledgeable”

i was particularly interested in the mix of religions and their origins within Japan and Hiroyuki broke it down with a much greater clarity than I was expecting. He also exhibited a great deal of patience given our impulsive changes as we were moving about through Kyoto.

Hiroyuki T.

(89 reviews)

Thank you very much for your kind words. It was really nice spending time with you in Kyoto. I appreciated our conversation at the tea house in Gion very much. I learned a lot from you. Please come back to Japan again. There are a lot more that I want to show you.