Koyasan Okunoin

Koyasan Okunoin is the most sacred site on Mount Koya, the center of Shingon Buddhism founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 816. A two-kilometer-long path winds through an ancient cedar forest past over 200,000 moss-covered tombstones and memorial pagodas of feudal lords, monks, and notable figures spanning centuries. The path leads to the Torodo Hall of Lanterns, where over 10,000 lanterns burn perpetually, and finally to the mausoleum where Kobo Daishi is believed to rest in eternal meditation. Visiting at dawn or dusk, when mist hangs between the towering cedars, is an unforgettable spiritual experience. Many visitors stay overnight in temple lodgings and experience shojin ryori Buddhist cuisine.