Koya

Mount Koya, a small mountain town in Wakayama Prefecture, is the center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. You can meditate with monks in 1,200-year-old temples, walk among 200,000 stone monuments in Okunoin Cemetery, and see the intricate painted sliding doors at Kongobuji Temple. Many visitors sleep in temple lodgings where monks cook vegetarian meals and lead morning prayer ceremonies.

Morning Buddhist Rituals at Temple Lodgings

Temple bells wake you before sunrise when you stay at a temple lodging (shukubo). Monks invite guests to join their morning prayer ceremony at 6:30 AM, where you'll sit in the main hall during sutra chanting and incense burning. You eat breakfast in your room or a communal dining area. Each of the 50 temples across Mount Koya has its own schedule for morning ceremonies and meditation sessions.

Walking Through Okunoin Cemetery

A 2-kilometer stone path through Okunoin Cemetery leads between ancient cedar trees and more than 200,000 stone monuments and tombstones. You'll pass memorials to medieval lords, modern corporations, and Buddhist followers. The path ends at Torodo Hall, where 10,000 lanterns burn continuously. Behind Torodo, monks bring food offerings twice daily to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.

Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine

Monks in temple lodgings prepare shojin ryori - Buddhist vegetarian meals without meat, fish, garlic, or onions. Each meal includes rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and several small dishes prepared through different cooking methods. You'll find local specialties like koya-dofu (freeze-dried tofu) and goma-dofu (sesame tofu made from ground sesame paste). The monks follow centuries-old recipes using seasonal ingredients.

Getting to Mount Koya

Take the Nankai Koya Line from Osaka's Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station (80 minutes by limited express train). At Gokurakubashi, a 5-minute cable car ride takes you up the mountain. At the top, regular buses connect to all temples and sites. The complete journey from Osaka takes about two hours.

Kongobuji Temple Complex

Kongobuji, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, contains sliding doors with nature scenes and Buddhist stories painted by Kano school artists. The Banryutei rock garden includes 140 granite stones arranged in a dragon pattern. Monks lead meditation sessions at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM in the temple's meditation halls. Sign up for guided meditation at the temple office.