KOYASAN: UP UP UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

08.27.2009 We travelled to the Koya mountains in the Wakayama prefecture to the south of Osaka. It's the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It was a rewarding place to visit, for its natural setting, cool air, peace and quiet and an opportunity to stay in a Buddhist temple. Here are some images of the Buddhist temple we lodged in, Shinjosh-in.

Shojin-ryori : Buddhist Monk vegetarian meals. Breakfasts were served at 7am, after morning prayer services starting at 6am. As guests of the temple, we were required to attend the prayer services, which were about 40 minutes long. Dinners were served at 5:30pm.

Okuno-in Deep in the woods, Okuno-in, is regarded as the most sacred site in Koyasan. The temple was founded by Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in Japan. It is also where Kobo Daishi's body is enshrined. The temple is surrounded by Japan's largest graveyard and gigantic cedar trees.

Jizo statues: the protectors of travelers, pregnant women and children. They commemorate the loss of any child or miscarriage. Often seen with knitted caps and bibs.

Kongobu-ji This is the headquarters of the Shingon School and residence of Koyasan's abbot. It's worth a visit to view the interior pretty screen paintings, which we weren't allowed to photograph. There's a beautiful room, called the Willow Room, with paintings of a wintery scene, made more chilling to the fact that Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew, Hidetsugu, committed seppuku at this spot in 1595. Hidetsugu was the adopted heir to the childless Hideyoshi, but when Hideyoshi fathered a son, later in 1593, he ordered the nephew to commit suicide to ensure no arguments over succession.

Getting to Koyasan from Kyoto:

JR Kyoto subway (Tokaido Line) New Rapid Express (540JPY) to JR Shin Osaka

Transfer to Subway Shin Osaka (Mido-suji Line) to Subway Namba (270JPY)

Transfer to Nankai Namba (Nankai Electric Railway Express / about 2 hours, runs every 30 minutes) to Gokuraku-bashi station (850JPY) - The train winds through through tight valleys with amazing mountain views.

From Gokuraku-bashi, take the cable car to Koyasan (380JPY). Not for the faint of heart.

From the cable car station, you can take any number of buses to the different temple areas.