Top Things to do in Koya-cho
Top Restaurants in Koya-cho
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for Big Groups in Koya-cho, Kinki
Discover the best top things to do in Koya-cho, Japan including Koyasan Okunoin, Kongobu-ji Temple, Koyasan Danjo Garan, Koyasan Okunoin Night Tour, Mt. Koya, Kumagai-ji Temple, Shojoshin-in Temple, Koyasan Daimon, Koyasan Visitor Information Center, Koyasan Station.
Restaurants in Koya-cho
1. Koyasan Okunoin
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,261 reviews
Reviewed By ggm96822 - Honolulu, United States
A place to let your soul re-awaken. Having last stayed in a monastery here 19 years ago, before it was added to the World Heritage list, I was apprehensive about returning, having heard of busloads of noisy tourists overunning everything, but it defies defilement; one of the world's truly sacred spaces. Early morning and dusk are the best time to visit, early there are monks chanting, at dusk as the shadows fall the 200,000 tombs of the cedar forest begin to stir quietly.
2. Kongobu-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 504 reviews
Reviewed By AB_Stb_OZ - Oud-Zuilen, The Netherlands
Kongobu-ji temple is the center of the Shogun Buddhist community. There are many temples and subtemples and there is an interesting (huge) Zen Garden. Staff is highly accomodating to visitors.
3. Koyasan Danjo Garan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 374 reviews
Reviewed By ggm96822 - Honolulu, United States
This is the spot where Kobo Daishi found the vajra he had hurled to determine where to build a monastery, 1200 years ago. Around twenty beautiful temples and pagodas, including the bright vermillion "great pagoda," Konpon Daito, rebuilt in the 1930s and kept freshly painted. Early in the morning, there are monks chanting in the Kondo (the main pavilion) and the 'no entry' apparently only applies to tour groups, a monk nodded me in without any objection.
4. Koyasan Okunoin Night Tour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Let’s visit “Kobo Daishi Kukai” in Okunoin between early dinner and going to bed. A licensed guide who can speak English takes you an enjoyable tour. Things I talk about ・Teachings from Shingon Esoteric Buddhism ・Kobo Daishi (aka Kukai) : The founder of KOYASAN ・Legends (funny and scary stories in the cemetery) ・Daily life of monks ・History of KOYASAN ・Tombs If we are lucky, we could see
5. Mt. Koya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 818 reviews
Wooden temples hidden among the trees, mist-covered mountains, smooth-headed monks in colorful robes--all the Buddhist film archetypes are alive on Mt. Koya. A deeply sacred place, central to the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Mt. Koya is also a World Heritage Site due to its more than 1000-year-old teaching and meditation sites.
Reviewed By epicure49
We stayed with the young monks at Yochi-In and absolutely loved walking around this stunning mountain-top enclave of Buddhist temples. This is surely what all we tourists expected and wanted of Japan. Peace and quiet in a remote wooded area... beautiful shrines and temples with an other-worldly quality so far removed from the hubbub of your normal lives. I took too many photos to show here but have included just a few... A very definite MUST VISIT place.
6. Kumagai-ji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
7. Shojoshin-in Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By kaioatey - Half Moon Bay, United States
Stopped for a temple lunch, which was held in a screened-off room near an ancient garden. The lunch was beautifully presented, visually powerful and tasteful. The day was freezing day the room was mercifully warm. Friendly staff. Highly recommended.
8. Koyasan Daimon
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 246 reviews
Reviewed By kaioatey - Half Moon Bay, United States
Symbolic entrance to the city, with two large protector deities enshrined on the sides. The site is at the edge of the mountain so you have a nice view of the misty hills. Very windy. I was very tempted to go on the trail that winds up the hill (see photo), I wonder where it goes.
9. Koyasan Visitor Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By scotwithadevil
We booked on the scheduled afternoon walking tour with the tourist office at the main square. My husband and I were the only 2 people on the walk that day. We had a lovely guide. Her name was Natsumi (I hope I have spelt that correctly). She was a lovely guide. Very friendly. Lots of information. She even provided me with insect bite cream (and insisted I keep the whole tube) after some little horrors decided to feast on my legs in the late afternoon. An enjoyable afternoon learning about some of the history and temple and shrine ceremonies.
10. Koyasan Station
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By ACT1943 - Mumbai, India
From Nara we had to take two trains and a cable car to reach Koyasan at a height. The Japanese value time in its true sense, theirs and ours. We hardly ever waited for trains, ever there, even the cable car! Most admirable culture, hospitality and values! If all countries were such we would be living in Paradise!
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