Koyasan/Kudozan area offers tourist attractions such as Koyasan, Yakushi-ji Temple, and Daimon Gate; sightseeing events such as the Aoba Festival, Sumiyoshi Festival, and Sanada Festival; and local delicacies such as vegetarian cuisine, sasazushi, and mehari-zushi.
Koyasan, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, is an area of 1,000-meter-high mountains. The most famous tourist spot in this area is, without a doubt, the Holy Mountain Koyasan. It is a sacred site founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.
Along with Mt. Hiei, it has a large number of worshippers and is a sacred place in Japanese Buddhism. The most famous site is the "Nemoto Dojo," which consists of many buildings, including the main hall, Kongobuji Temple.
It is now registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Despite Wakayama Prefecture's mild climate, winters are very severe and snowfall is often observed here, but even in winter, Koyasan's cultural assets, blending in with the coniferous trees, are simple and very beautiful, striking a chord with visitors.
Koyasan offers a number of ascetic practices, such as sutra copying and Zen meditation, which are designed to enable visitors to acquire Buddhist teachings through these experiences. Naturally, vegetarian food is served during the ascetic practices, but it is also possible to eat only vegetarian food.
Koyasan is famous for its sesame tofu, but you can also purchase Buddhist-related items such as fans and prayer beads as souvenirs.
Koyasan has numerous buildings, all of which are venerable. The "Daimon" gate has a wonderful format from the front gate, and depending on the day, Awaji Island can also be seen.
Among the facilities, the "Koyasan Shukubo," a facility that welcomes the traveling public, offers national treasures, important cultural properties, and gardens, as well as lodging facilities.
The "Okuno-in," Koyasan's largest spiritual center, is where all the spirits of the world are enshrined in tombstones. Koyasan Reihokan, which collectively manages the national treasures, houses a vast amount of treasures, including 130 documents alone, totaling nearly 20,000 items.
It is one of the largest Buddhist sanctuaries in Japan, and the tombs of all living creatures in the world are spectacular. The tombs of all living creatures are spectacular. There is also a company tomb, and just looking at it is a very magical experience, so it is recommended that you visit if you are in the area.
Koyasan is a training center for Shingon esoteric Buddhism, founded by Kobo Daishi about 1,200 years ago, and home to the head temple Kongobuji. Koya was registered as a World Heritage site as "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Various halls and pagodas stand in a mountai...»
Kongobuji Temple is the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect. The building with a grand entrance was rebuilt in 1863. The main hall is a large structure with 30 east-west rooms and 35 north-south rooms. In the hall, there is a sliding door painting by Kano Tanyu, "Pine trees and cranes", and in t...»