AWESOME TOURS
Experience the spiritual heart of Mount Koya on an exclusive 4.5-hour private tour (4 hours of guiding + 30 minutes of logistical support) tailored entirely to your group of 1–5 guests. Led by a master resident guide with 15 years of local experience, you will journey through the three most sacred sites: Okunoin Cemetery, Kongobuji Temple, and the Danjo Garan. As a licensed travel agency operator and former Head of Temple Office Operations, your guide offers a deep, authentic perspective that only a long-term local professional can provide.
Options
Okunoin, Kongobuji & Danjo Garan
The Highlight
Complete Private Door-to-Door Service: Includes pickup from your accommodation within Koyasan, transportation between sites during the tour, and a final drop-off at your destination.
15 Years of Professional Expertise: Led by a National Licensed Guide and the founder of the Okunoin Night Tour, who has provided professional guidance almost daily for over 15 years.
True Local Authority: Unlike outside guides or part-time hobbyists, your guide is a full-time resident with an extensive local network and real-time knowledge of the mountain’s traditions.
Former Temple Insider: Gain unique insights from a former Head of Temple Office Operations with a decade of experience managing a local temple’s administrative and spiritual gateway.
The Three Sacred Sites: Covers the essential heart of Koyasan, including Japan’s largest rock garden and the majestic 48.5-meter-tall Great Pagoda, with clear explanations in English (refined through study in the UK).
The Experience
This 4.5-hour experience is more than a tour; it is a profound immersion into Shingon Esoteric Buddhism led by one of Koyasan’s most experienced professionals.
Okunoin Cemetery: Walk through the ancient forest past 200,000 monuments. Your guide, the creator of the original night tour, shares deep legends and the spiritual significance of the Mausoleum of Kobo Daishi.
Kongobuji Head Temple: Explore the center of Shingon Buddhism, featuring the Banryutei—the largest rock garden in Japan—and historic interior rooms.
Danjo Garan: Visit the birthplace of the monastic center, including the iconic Konpon Daito (Great Pagoda), standing 48.5 meters tall.
Full Logistical Support: To ensure a stress-free visit, we provide full transportation within the Koyasan area. We will pick you up at your hotel/station before the tour, manage all transport between sites, and drop you off at your preferred location afterward.
Optional Lunch Break (+1 Hour): If you wish to include a lunch break, the tour can be extended to a total of 5.5 hours. An additional fee of ¥10,000 applies to cover the guide's time and reservation support during this hour. (Lunch costs are not included).
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
Itinerary
- Okunoin, Kongobuji & Garan
Price Details
Add-on Items
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
Pricing: The base fee is ¥75,000 per group (up to 5 people). This is a private tour; no other guests will join.
Transportation: Complimentary pickup and drop-off within the Koyasan area are included.
Entrance Fees: Admission for Kongobuji and Danjo Garan (approx. ¥2,000 pp) is not included. Please have Japanese Yen ready.
Guide Policy: While we aim for the lead guide to conduct every tour, if he is unavailable, the tour will be led by a veteran guide personally trained by him. All backup guides are, at minimum, Kongobuji Temple-Certified Guides.
Professional Standard: We are a fully licensed travel agency. This is our professional commitment to providing the most reliable and authentic experience in Koyasan.
Important Booking Information
Local Resident Guide: Your guide is a full-time resident, not a commuter from outside the area. This ensures you receive the most current information regarding temple rituals and local conditions.
Meeting Point: Pickup at your accommodation or the station within Koyasan. Please provide your pickup location at the time of booking.
Timing: For guests wishing to witness the "Shojin-ku" ritual—the sacred daily meal offering to Kobo Daishi at Okunoin—please set your pickup time to 9:30 AM. This ensures we arrive at the Mausoleum in time for this rare and spiritual ceremony.
Starting Point (Nakanohashi): Please note that our exploration of Okunoin begins at the Nakanohashi entrance, not Ichinohashi.
For Okunoin Night Tour Alumni: Even if you have already joined the Okunoin Night Tour (which typically starts from Ichinohashi), this daytime tour is a perfect complement. We follow a different route through the cemetery, focusing on areas and details not covered during the night. By joining this tour, you will "complete" your experience of the entire Okunoin complex.
Weather: The tour operates in rain or snow. In case of extreme weather warnings, we will contact you to cancel and provide a full refund.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation made at least 8 day(s) before departure date, Fully refundable (100% refund)
- Cancel during 3 ~ 7 day(s) of departure, will charge 30%
- Cancel during 1 ~ 2 day(s) of departure, will charge 80%
- Cancel on activities date, Non-refundable (0% refund)