Mount Koya ?K?yasan, ???? is a 1200 year old sacred temple town in the mountains of northern Wakayama Prefecture. There are over 100 temples in Koyasan. Koyasan is a UNESCO World Heritage area, part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range which includes Yoshino and Omine in Nara Prefecture and Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama Prefecture.

Danjo Garan at sunrise
In this article:

The Grand Gateway to Koyasan
Danjo Garan Temple Complex
In the small town of Mount Koya
Bicycle hire in Koyasan
Map of Koyasan
How to get to Mount Koya and Danjo Garan
Opening hours and admission cost
Traveler?s tips
When to visit (events & festivals)

Koyasan is close to Nara, Kyoto and Osaka. The “Pilgrimage Route” part of its World Heritage title refers to an ancient road that linked this area to Nara and Kyoto (both previous capitals of Japan). Koyasan was established in 816 as the centre of Shingon Buddhism. There are over 50 temples in Koyasan offering accommodation to visitors. I stayed for a night at Renge-in ????? in the middle of town. Koyasan temple lodgings offer an amazing experience – staying at a real Japanese Buddhist temple, eating their traditional cuisine and taking part in their prayers.
Koyasan has many sites to visit, and unfortunately I only stayed for one night. That said, it was plenty of time to enjoy the Danjo Garan and get up close to the Daimon (The Grand Gateway).
The Grand Gateway to Koyasan
Daimon?Large Entrance Gate, ???
Th...