Wakayama

Koyasan (Mount Koya) is a 1,200-year-old Buddhist mountain settlement in Wakayama Prefecture and the world headquarters of Shingon Buddhism. This complete first-timer’s guide walks you through how to get there from Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo, what to see (Okunoin Cemetery, Danjo Garan, Kongobuji, Daimon Gate, Reihokan Museum), how to stay in a shukubo (temple lodging) for a vegetarian shojin ryori dinner and morning sutra ceremony, when to visit by season, sample 2-day itinerary, budget estimates, and full etiquette and practical tips for one of Japan’s most extraordinary cultural overnight experiences.