Sightings of a world traveler: Mount Koya (Koyasan)

We got to Koyasan by a combination of train cable car and bus.The train ride through the mountains is quite lovely and with the clouds and mist rolling through the mountains it was very picturesque.

Train ride to Koyasan

It took a while but we finally arrived at the temple we were staying at. Shojoshinin (清浄心院) is on the far end of town from the station but is very close to the graveyard in town.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

Rooms in the temple are traditional Japanese rooms with a small tea area and an area on the tatami for beds. The rooms are cold but they give you four comforters to stay warm at night.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

Walking around the temple grounds on the covered walkways you can see little gardens and alcoves.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

In the morning you go to a prayer room at 6am for the morning prayer that lasts an hour before breakfast at 7am. The room is very cold and I was shivering during the entire hour long prayer but it was very interesting. Nothing was said in Japanese and there was no English explanation for anything.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

The alter in the prayer room is very beautiful and after the prayer you can walk around it at look at everything.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

Dinner is held at 5pm and breakfast is held in a tatami room where they set up screens between groups and food is served on small tray tables at 7am.

Shojoshinin (清浄心院)

There are a lot of temples in Koyasan that you walk though along the side of the road. Karukayado (苅萱堂) is just on the side of the road with so many flags on the outside.

Karukayado (苅萱堂)

Temples and tori gate paths were found all along the road giving this small town its character.

Jofukuin (成福院) was one of the most noticeable temple and had a small museum section in the pagoda. There was a shrine and an underground section where you walk int he dark with shrines lit up underground. Display cases held religious or historic items from wars.

Jofukuin (成福院)

Among the many souvenir shops in town that sold fancy cookies, prayer beads, calligraphy equipment and regular souvenirs, there was a store in town that was very Miyazaki themed with souvenirs from all of the movies.

Kongobuji (金剛峯寺) was one of the larger temples in town with a large open area in front of the temple.

Kongobuji (金剛峯寺)

Rokujino kane (高野山金剛峯寺六時の鐘) is a large bell in town.

Rokujino kane (高野山金剛峯寺六時の鐘)

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍), or Garan, was one of the first complexes built by Kobo Daishi in Koyasan. It has been rebuilt a few times after being destroyed by fire. The 20 temple buildings surround the main large pagoda. A large red gate sits at the main entrance to the temple. Smaller pagodas are scattered around the temple grounds.

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍)

The pagoda is really tall and you can enter it and walk around the statue in the center. Nearby a famous tree is gated off. This tree is said to be the reason why the founder chose this location to start the temple.

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍)

I small pagoda had a wheel you could turn. I am not really sure the point of spinning the wheel but I think you are supposed to make a wish and spin it all the way around.

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍)

The temple pagoda and gate are lit up at night and there are very few people around so it is very quiet and serene. Some flying squirrels were calling from the large trees by the temple.

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍)

The gate has four statues, one at each corner depicting very different personalities including a warrior and a scholar.

Danjō-garan (壇上伽藍)

Koyasan Okunoin Omotesando Ichinohashi (高野山奥の院表参道一の橋) is the large graveyard with ancient graves in it. The rainy misty night gave it an erie appearance as I walked to the shrine at the end of the graveyard train with a million lanterns.