Inside sacred Koyasan through the eyes of a monk

On this half-day experience, we start at Okunoin, the centre of Koyasan’s religious traditions and the sacred mausoleum site of the great Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. The entrance, through the cemetery, feels particularly atmospheric with around 200,000 stone pagodas and cedar trees reaching tens of metres in height. From here, we visit the innermost part of Okunoin, where I reside with my contemporaries and where we all performed a ritual to enter Buddhist priesthood.

To better understand our way of life, and if the timing is right, you can watch a ceremony that has taken place daily for thousands of years in which the monks offer lunch to Kobo Daishi; he is believed to still be alive today, having been meditating in the mausoleum for over 1,200 years. We not only guide you but also explain the doctrine and spirituality behind this significant ritual and others that have been practiced for hundreds of generations. Some people even find the disciplines underpinning our practices useful in their own daily lives.

Koyasan was closed to women until 1872. Before that female worshippers were only permitted on the surrounding mountain paths encircling the town. These ancient paths, called Nyonindo, are often referred to as the Women’s Pilgrim Route, and known for their gentle natural beauty. We accompany our guests on this crumbling and serene trail heading deep into the mountains, surrounded by trees and brought to life by the soothing chirping of birds. At the end of the walk, you can enjoy a bento box lunch in a picnic spot overlooking the Kii Mountain Range taking in the superb views of an undulating forest shrouded in history.