Day trip to Mount Koya (Koyasan) from Osaka

Mount Koya, or Koyasan, is the spiritual heart of Shingon Buddhism, founded more than one thousand two hundred years ago by the monk Kukai high in a wooded valley of Wakayama prefecture. This day trip from Osaka takes you to one of the most sacred and atmospheric places in Japan, a World Heritage Site. The route usually includes the Kongobu-ji temple, the head temple of the Shingon school with its impressive rock garden, and above all Okunoin, the largest cemetery in Japan: a two-kilometre path among centuries-old cedars, stone lanterns and more than two hundred thousand tombs that leads to Kukai's mausoleum. The tour starts at around 11.000 ¥, usually includes bus transport and a guide, and often a vegetarian shojin ryori meal. The duration is around ten to twelve hours. Bring warm clothing, as it is colder in the mountains than in Osaka, and comfortable shoes for walking. It is a serene experience, very different from the urban bustle, ideal for those seeking culture and nature.