“Women Pilgrims Route” is said to be “the most beautiful trail” among the mountain paths around Koyasan. After attending a ritual in Okunoin, we are going to hike some of the “Women Pilgrims Route” that even forest experts recommend. At the end of the tour you will eat local specialties while watching the spectacular panorama of the mountains registered as World Heritage Sites.
Public toilet at Naka-no-hashi parking lot (The closest bus stop is “Okunoin-mae”)
After the tour, we will send you anywhere you want to go within Koyasan area by taxi or public transportation.
This hiking is not aimed to climb to the top of the mountain, it is an easy nature walk. You can enjoy the mountain while feeling nature and wind that you cannot have in city life. Forest smell, sound of birds and wind, the transitions of nature every season….. Opening the senses and walking through the forest path make your mind and body be filled with exhilaration.
If you have a healthy leg, anyone can feel free to participate. It is a tour that does not require technique like climbing.
The guide is a monk who has a license to guide in Koyasan and will introduce the nature of Koyasan and the teachings of esoteric Buddhism with the viewpoint and knowledge unique to monks living in Koyasan.It will be a different explanation and route from the night tour, therefore, it is also recommended for those who participated in the night tour.
First of all, we will gather in front of a public toilet at the Naka-no-hashi parking lot and head towards Okunoin to attend “Shojingu” which is a daily ritual of delivering meals twice a day to the Grand Master, believed to be in eternal meditation. Along the way, the monk explains various story such as explanation of company tombs, the oldest big tree, the biggest tombstone, tombs of samurai and a tomb for termites.
After visiting Okunoin, we will enter the mountain path. Although we have a bit of up and down in the beginning, we will walk for almost 30 minutes on a nearly flat forest path. Let’s experience the mysterious nature of the old pilgrimage road that Kobo Daishi Kukai walked also.
At the end of the tour, you can have a seat on chairs and enjoy lunch on a beautifully decorated table while watching the spectacular panorama of the mountains of the Kii mountain range registered as World Heritage Sites.
The lunch will be “Sasazushi bento” which is local cuisine of Koyasan. “Sasazushi” means sushi wrapped in a bamboo grass leaf. Hot drinks like green tea, coffee and tea will be provided free of charge.
guide fee, lunch, tea service
pick-up service at your hotel
If a tour has to be cancelled due to a rainy weather, we will refund the tour price in full.
Since we walk on the mountain, please come with shoes that you do not mind if they get dirty. After the rainy weather, the ground is muddy, so wearing trekking shoes or boots is recommended. Although the physical burden is small, there are also narrow mountain paths, so this tour is for those who have healthy leg.The tour may be canceled in rainy weather. If you have rain gear, please bring it in case of sudden change in the weather.
I would highly recommend anyone visiting Koyasan to spend time being guided by Nobu. He was very kind, knowledgeable and fun to be with. It was great to learn so much about Koyasan, the beliefs and customs of the area and of the esoteric teachings. Being with Nobu meant he could bring everything I was seeing to life, with the history and its context, rather than what I could just see with my own eyes. There is no substitute for these insights and it gave the whole experience a deeper meaning for me. Thank you Nobu!
excellent tour, very informative and extremely well presented
We enjoyed our tour with Nobu immensely. He was so knowledgeable and interesting. The time went by so quickly. This was the best tour that we have done while in Japan.
It was a privilege to spend the time with Nobusan. He was funny, informative and very patient with us. He went out of his way to point out and explain aspects of Koyasan which were of particular interest to us, as well as educating us on the history and culture of the area. It was the highlight of our trip and we cannot recommend it highly enough.