Ryokan in Koyasan
高野山A town of more than a hundred temples on a mountain plateau in Wakayama, founded by the monk Kukai in 816. About fifty of them take guests (shukubo), with vegetarian shojin ryori and morning prayers. From Osaka's Namba it is about 80 minutes by Nankai limited express to Gokurakubashi, then a cable car and a short bus ride.
Koyasan through the year
Spring春
March to May
On the mountain the cherry trees usually flower in mid-April, later than in the cities below.
Summer夏
June to August
On 13 August, the Rosoku Matsuri lines the path through Okunoin cemetery with tens of thousands of candles.
Autumn秋
September to November
The leaves usually turn from late October into early November.
Winter冬
December to February
Winters are cold: nights below minus 10°C have been recorded, and snow settles on the temples and the cedars of Okunoin.
The ryokan
Listed stays
14 approved listings · 14 total in Koyasan
Photo credits
gardnergp, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; Blue Lotus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Juan Sanabria, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr