🗺️ Mount Koya高野山

Koyasan, founded in the 7th year of the Kōnin era (816) by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), is a sacred site of Shingon Buddhism centered around Kongōbu-ji. Located in a basin at an altitude of about 800 meters, it is surrounded by mountains over 1000 meters high, making it a religious city where the entire town is within the temple grounds. Koyasan has many cultural sites where one can experience over 1200 years of history, including Japan's first pagoda, the foundational Great Pagoda "Danjō Garan," and the "Okunoin," which houses the mausoleum of Kōbō Daishi. Among these, Kongōbu-ji and its pilgrimage paths, along with Kumano and Yoshino Ōmine, have been collectively registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." Additionally, out of the 117 temples in Koyasan, 51 serve as lodging facilities for general visitors known as "shukubo." Visitors can also spend precious time unique to Koyasan by participating in activities such as copying sutras, fire rituals, and tasting vegetarian cuisine. In Koyasan, where summer is shorter than in the plains, the trees begin to change color in early October. The best time to view the autumn leaves is from late October to early November, allowing visitors to enjoy the vibrant maple colors while visiting the temples.

117 temples are centered around "Kongōbūji," forming a mountain castle. Kongōbūji and the pilgrimage routes have been registered as a World Heritage Site. There are many shukubo (temple lodgings) within the temples, where visitors can stay and experience ascetic practices. This place is also a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves and temples.