Osaka City Break

Get a glimpse into traditional Japanese life with a tour to Koya-san; where Buddhist temples are nestled amongst stunning natural scenery.

Highlights
- Enjoy a traditional Buddhist lunch
- Witness long-held traditions still in use
- Admire temples and sacred ground that makeup Koya-san’s monastic complex
- Decipher these mystical sites and treasures with the help of a guide

Situated amongst eight mountain peaks, Mt Koya is listed as a Unesco Sacred Site and Pilgrimage Route in the Kii Mountain Range, whose sacred grounds invite guests to witness the Buddhist way of life. From Osaka, we travel by Nankai Railway, Limited Express to Koyasan station whereby bus we continue our journey to Ichinohashi Kanko Center.

Get your first taste of Buddhist lifestyle with a vegetarian Buddhist lunch before we start our tour of this fascinating monastic complex with your guide. Firstly we go to Okuno-in Temple, the highlight of Koya-san, where you walk along the 2km path to the temple located in a mystical atmosphere, lined with hundreds of thousands of small stone pagodas. We then explore the Danjo Garan Complex, a sacred place that represents the concept of Shingon Mikkyo Buddhism established by Kobo Daishi (Saint Kobo). Take time to appreciate the natural setting looking down over the area from a height of 900m, as well as the long-held traditions that are still visible in this unique place, before we embark on our journey back to Osaka by bus and Nankai Railway.