Mount Kōya

Mount Kōya spans across eight mountain peaks at an elevation of 800 meters, containing 120 temples within its forested grounds and religious university complex.

The Buddhist monk Kūkai established the first monastery on Mount Kōya in 819, selecting this location due to its natural configuration among eight mountain peaks.

The Kongōbu-ji temple functions as the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, featuring halls, pagodas, and the largest rock garden in Japan within its grounds.

Fifty temples offer overnight stays with traditional vegetarian meals, morning prayers, and meditation sessions for visitors seeking religious experiences.

The Okunoin cemetery contains over 200,000 monuments and tombs, extending through an ancient forest of cedar trees leading to Kūkai's mausoleum.

Location: Koya

Inception: 810

Founders: Kūkai

Elevation above the sea: 885 m

Part of: Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

GPS coordinates: 34.21211,135.58200

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:47