Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka by Car with Licensed Guide

4.9 (9 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

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9 reviews

4.9

Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka by Car with Licensed Guide — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Mt. Koya Day Trip from Osaka by Car with Licensed Guide, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This is the ideal tour for travelers wanting to discover World Heritage Site, Mt. Koya. Go on a full-day guided private car tour of Mt. Koya and learn about the modern and traditional aspects of one of the world’s most sacred mountains!

If you are staying in Osaka but would like to take some time out to enjoy some sights outside the big city, then this tour of Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture is for you! Meet your guide at your hotel in Osaka, then head to Mount Koya.

Note*1: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–7
Guide: English
Operated by: Japan Guide Agency

Ages: Infants (0–5 years) · Children (6–11 years) · Adults (12–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private vehicle
Included: Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list'
Included: Licensed Local English Speaking Guide

Not included

Not included: Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Not included: You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Not included: Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Itinerary

Koyasan Okunoin

2 hours

The heart of Mt. Koya. Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan, rests here. Also, many prominent personalities' graves line by the approach to Okunoin for several hundred meters through the forest. Your guide will explain interesting stories about those historical characters.
Kongobu-ji Temple

1 h 30 min

The main headquarters for the Shingon Sect, which has 4,000 temples throughout Japan and more than 10 million followers worldwide. Visitors can see religious artifact, fusuma sliding door paintings, as well as a beautiful rock garden representing two dragons flying amongst the clouds.
Koyasan Danjo Garan

1 h 30 min

One of the two most sacred sites in Mt. Koya. In the 9th century, Mt. Koya was founded on this very ground. At that time, Kobo Daishi held a groundbreaking ceremony and then dedicated his life to the construction of Danjo Garan. This sacred area consists of nearly twenty different structures including the magnificent Konpon Daito. Your guide will tell you the meaning of these structures.
Koyasan Reihokan Museum

one hour

The Reihokan Museum (霊宝館, Reihōkan) was built to house and preserve the religious and cultural treasures of Koyasan. The museum's entrance hall is styled after Byodoin Temple in Uji, and it has three exhibition halls for both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The museum's collection consists of thousands of religious works of art. The permanent exhibition displays statues, mandala (paintings representing metaphysical maps of the cosmos), and various other religious tools and paintings, the most notable of which is the scroll depicting the "Reclining Image of Sakyamuni Buddha on His Last Day". Additionally, a rotating temporary exhibition displays a seasonal selection chosen from the museum's collection.
Koyasan Daishi Kyokai

one hour

Daishi Kyokai (大師教会, Daishi Kyōkai) is the administrative center of Shingon Buddhism, and is responsible for spreading the teachings of Kobo Daishi, the sect's founder. The complex consists of two buildings: Henjoden, a traditional temple hall, that was built in 1915 and is dedicated to Kobo Daishi, and a modern building for administration, lectures and training.

Visitors can participate in a few activities at Daishi Kyokai, such as receiving Buddhist precepts (jukai) or copying Buddhist scriptures (shakyo). No advance reservations are required.
Tokugawa's Mausoleum

one hour

The Tokugawa Mausoleum (徳川家霊台, Tokugawa-ke Reidai) on Koyasan was built in 1643 by the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu in order for his family to have a mausoleum close to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum. It consists of two buildings which enshrine Iemitsu's grandfather Ieyasu and father Hidetada, the first two Tokugawa shogun.

The mausoleum's two identical buildings took twenty years to be completed and were built in the extravagant style of the early Edo Period with graceful sloping roofs, rich ornamentation, intricate carvings, lacquer and gold leaf. The two buildings stand side by side. The one on the right enshrines Ieyasu and the one on the left Hidetada.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Hotel Alexander Namba
Natural Hot Spring Midosuji Hotel
Swissotel Nankai Osaka
OYO 644 Hotel Art Inn Namba
Kuromon Crystal Hotel
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka-Namba
The OneFive Osaka Namba-Kuromon
Hotel Dans Le Coeur Osaka Umeda
Hotel and Spa Atlantis -Adults Only
Toyoko Inn Osaka Nippombashi Bunraku Gekijo Mae
Red Roof Inn & Suites Osaka Namba Nippombashi
Cinnamon Hotel

and 637 more pickup points

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in the Osaka area or your

preferred location around Osaka Port or Osaka Station. Please use email for any communication before the tour.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.