One Day Guided Private Tour
Tour Name: Koyasan Highlights -Departing from Kyoto (9~11.5hours)
Approximate Walking Distance: 4 miles/ 6.4 km
1. Highlights
This tour is only available between the end of April and the end of November due to the highway bus schedule.
Koyasan is a UNESCO site as a part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range and the Cultural Landscapes that Surrounds Them", and is the center of the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan.
The sect is based on Esoteric Buddhism, and was introduced to Japan in 805 by a high priest Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi). He built the headquarters of the Shingon sect at the mountain basin in today's Wakayama prefecture, and a temple town was developed around the headquarters. The elevation of Koyasan is 800 meters/2,624 feet above sea level.
Koyasan mainly has three areas: Danjo Garan area, Kongobu-ji Temple area, and Okunoin area (cemetery). Danjo Garan literally means "Training sites for monks". Kongobu-ji Temple is the head temple of the Shingon sect and the Okunoin area has the site of Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum and the approach leading to it. In this tour, you can visit all these three areas.
The guide will meet you in the lobby of your accommodation (within Kyoto city) and take the highway bus together to get to Koyasan. The bus ride takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
We will have lunch along the route of the tour (Not included in the tour price; please pay locally).
After enjoying guided sightseeing on Koyasan, around 5:00 P.M., we will take the return bus at Okunoin-mae Bus Stop to come back to Kyoto, arriving at Kyoto station at around 7:45pm; OR if you are staying on Koyasan that night, (meaning if you are not coming back to Kyoto), the tour ends at around 5:00pm on Koyasan.
Please note that the highway bus might not be on time depending on the weather condition / traffic congestion.
- This tour is private and guided: other guests outside your group will NOT participate the same tour. Maximum six people for each tour/group.
- The tour comprises of walking and the usage of public transport.
- Taxis are possible upon your request however it will be your additional cost.
2. Itinerary
Sometime between 8:00am and 8:30am (More accurate time will be informed)
The guide will Meet you in the lobby of your accommodation/an alternate place (within Kyoto city) as the starting point of the tour
Take Public Transport to Kyoto station with the guide
9:20am The highway bus departs from Kyoto station (Hachijo exit bus stop)
11:45am Arrive at Koyasan
- Danjo Garan area
Lunch (cost not included in the tour price)
- Kongobu-ji Temple
- Okunoin Cemetery
- Torodo Hall (Hall of Lanterns)
5:10pm
Take the return highway bus (to go back to Kyoto) at Okunoin-mae Bus Stop
[OR Tour ends at Okunoin-mae Bus Stop (if you are staying on Koyasan; NOT returning to Kyoto)]
7:45pm Arrive at Kyoto Station (Hachijo exit bus stop) and Tour ends
3.Tour prices & Included/Not Included
If there are any children aged 11 years old or younger in your group, a discounted price will apply; please make an inquiry to receive the estimate. *The age here means the age on the date of the tour.
(1) Tour Prices
If your group members are all adults and if you are coming back to Kyoto with the guide, the tour price per person will be as follows:
|
Total Number of person(s)in your Group |
Price Per Person (Tax included) 1day/9~11.5hours |
|
Six (maximum) |
13,800 yen |
|
Five |
14,500 yen |
|
Four |
15,500 yen |
|
Three |
17,100 yen |
|
Two |
20,500 yen |
|
One (only you) |
29,500 yen |
If your group members are all adults and if you are NOT coming back to Kyoto (meaning you are staying on Koyasan, NOT taking the return bus to Kyoto), the tour price per person will be as follows:
|
Total Number of person(s)in your Group |
Price Per Person (Tax included) 1day/9~11.5hours |
|
Six (maximum) |
11,800 yen |
|
Five |
12,500 yen |
|
Four |
13,500 yen |
|
Three |
15,100 yen |
|
Two |
18,500 yen |
|
One (only you) |
27,500 yen |
(2) Included
- General Entry/Admission fees
- Public Transportation fees to visit places mentioned in the itinerary
- Highway bus ticket(s) between Kyoto and Koyasan (Round/One way)
- Guiding fee
(3) Not included
- Meals and snacks
- Other costs incurred as a result of the request from the Client, such as taxi fares, additional admission fees, and fees for special/seasonal exhibitions/events, etc.*
- Travel Insurance
*The general entry fees to visit places written on the itinerary are included, however, if those places are holding seasonal / special exhibitions/events and if you would like to see some of them, please pay locally as those costs are not included.
4. Booking Conditions
-
It is necessary for you (and your family/group members who take this tour with you) to read and agree to the "Terms and Conditions".
5. How to Book
Step 1: Inform your Requested Date for the Tour
- Please submit the following form to inform your requested date for the tour.
- Within 24 hours you will receive a response, which informs you whether the guide (Fumiko) is available OR not on your requested date.
If you do not receive any response within 24 hours, please check your spam email folder or/and contact Kyoto MANSAI Tours again.
Step 2: Inform other necessary information
- When the day is secured for you, you will receive the link of the "Booking Form" by e-mail.
- In the Booking Form, you will be asked other necessary information.
- Please submit the Booking Form within 7 days you receive it.
Step 3: Pay the deposit / tour fare
- You will receive an invoice for the deposit / tour fare. To read when and how to pay the deposit / tour fare, please go to the following "Payment Information & Cancellation Policy" page.
6. Payment Information & Cancellation Policy
7. Places you can visit in this tour
Danjo Garan area
Danjo Garan area is the central temple complex consisting a group of temple buildings.
The complex includes the Konpon Daito (Great Pagoda), the Kondo (Main Hall), the Daimon (Main Gate) and other significant buildings. Kobo Daishi started the construction of the Konpon Daito Pagoda and Kondo Main Hall. However, the completion of the both buildings were after he passed away.
Those buildings underwent fires many times, but were reconstructed each time. By visiting Danjo Garan area, you can see the idea of Shingon Buddhism encompassing Kobo Daishi's philosophy.
Kongobu-ji Temple
Kongobuji is the administrative head temple of Koyasan Shingon Budhism. Originally the entire area of Koyasan was known as Kongobuji, and there was no specific building by that name until 1869.
The building now called Kongobuji was combined in 1869 from two existing temples.
One was called Seiganto-ji, founded by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, for the sake of the repose of the spirit of his mother in 1593. The other was called Kozanji, in charge of the administration of the affairs of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.
The temple contains beautiful screen paintings, one of Japan’s largest rock gardens called "Banryutei", and the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi’s disciple as well as successor Shinzen.
Okunoin area (Cemetery)
Okunoin cemetery includes the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, and grave stones / memorial stones of many notable historical figures along with regular people. Those people wished to rest near Kobo Daishi to receive salvation after their deaths.
There is a path in the cemetery, leading to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum. It is lined by towering cedar trees and extends about 2km/1.2 miles, from the entrance to the mausoleum.
Torodo Hall (Hall of Lanterns)
【Photography not allowed】
Kobo Daishi's mausoleum is considered to be the most sacred place at Koyasan.
Torodo Hall is the main hall for worship in the Okunoin cemetery area, built in front of the mausoleum. It was originally constructed by Kobo Daishi's disciple Shinzen, but the present building is a modern reconstruction.
Inside are more than 10,000 lanterns, which were donated by worshippers. Three of them have been kept lit since the 11th century.
Please note that we can enter the Torodo Hall, but cannot go to the inside of the mausoleum; we can see the mausoleum from the outside.
TO BOOK "Koyasan Highlights -Departing from Kyoto" TOUR, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO "HOW TO BOOK" SECTION.