In
Koyasanm monastery, the various facilities and
programs are prepared for visitors aiming for the experiences of Buddhism,
the natural world and so forth.
Koyasan is home
to an active monastic center founded twelve centuries ago by the priest Kukai
(posthumously known as Kobo Daishi) for the study and practice of Esoteric
Buddhism. It is the headquarters of the Koyasan sect of Shingon Buddhism, a
faith with a wide following throughout Japan. Situated on a small plain at
the top of Mount Koya is the sacred area known as the Danjo Garan, a complex
of temples, halls, pagodas and Buddhist statuary that welcome visitors to
this serene and hallowed place.Surrounded by a thick forest of massive
cedars, the area known as Okuno-in, or the Inner Sanctuary, is the setting
for a vast cemetery that features the mausolea of numerous famous Japanese,
including that of the samurai ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (or Taiko Hideyoshi)
as well as memorials to the spirits of soldiers killed in the Pacific
War.
WORLD HERITAGE
LIST: On July 7, 2004, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Koyasan as
part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain
Range to its World Heritage List. Now as in the past, Koyasan
continues to attract visitors, including believers and devotees, from around
the world. It is also an important destination for pilgrims returning from
the ''Pilgrimage to the 88 Temples of Shikoku.'' Koyasan is
a sacred place that always welcomes people with Buddha's great
love.
Vegetarian Cooking Koyasan's
vegetarian cooking is a traditional style cuisine that has been handed down
to the present-day by numerous priests and temples since the time Kukai
founded Koyasan
Experiencing Ajikan: Ajikan
is a form of Shingon meditation for integrating the practitioner with the
Buddha. Only a few shukubo temples are able to provide an Ajikan experience to
private visitors, so be sure to check first.
Experiencing
the Hand-Copying of Sutras:
The Hannya-Shingyo; sutra
(Prajna-paramita-sutra) is the essence of the Buddhist scriptures, and its
title contains the word Shin (meaning "heart") because
this sutra mentions the great love or merciful heart of Buddha. Kukai (Kobo
Daishi), the founder of Koyasan, exemplifies the virtues of hand-copying of
sutras as follows: all those who intently hand-copy the sutra will become
healthy both in mind and body, all pains and troubles will be dried up and
all those around such a person will also receive its blessings. If you wish
to experience the hand-copying of sutras, please contact the Daishi Kyokai
Center
Otsutome(Buddhist Ceremonies at
Temples): A Buddhist service is held early every
morning at shukubo temples.During the ceremony, the cheif priest and monks of
the temple chant Buddhist sutras in the main temple hall. Depending on the
temple, the ceremony may start at arond 6:00 AM. Overnight guests as temples
may also participate or watch
Walking
Guide: The ancient pilgrimage routes in Koyasan such
as Koyasan's Choishi Stupa Route, Koya Sanzan Route and Women
Pilgrims Route have been well maintained all the way up to the present-day.
These routes was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in July
2004, as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains
Range." Enjoy a pleasant outdoor experience for pilgrims and
hikers.
Access by train: The
Nankai Electric Railway makes 4 round trips a day by Limited Express, and
runs Express trains at about 30-min intervals between Osaka Namba Station and
Koyasan Station. It takes 1 hr 40 min by Limited Express, and around 2 hours
by Express. It takes about 2 hours from Wakayama as
well.
Access by car: From
Osaka's Kawachi-nagano to Hashimoto via Rt 371. Hashimoto to
Koyaguchi and Kudoyama via Rt 24. Kudoyama to Koyasan via Rt 370 & 480. It takes about 2 hours from Osaka, 5 hours from Nagoya