As a sea-level type of girl, I am easily impressed by mountains. They seem so majestic and important as they rise from the ground. The views are always spectacular, and the air is clear and crisp. Taking advantage of another long weekend, I decided to make my way to Koyasan (高野山).
Koyasan is located in Wakayama prefecture, about two hours from Osaka. The name actually doesn't refer to a single mountain, but rather a basin area located between 8 different mountains. The trip there seemed to take a long time, perhaps because there were multiple steps involved. I first took a train, then switched to a cable car, and finally to a bus.
 |
| Bad picture taken from a moving train. But, oooooo. Mountains. |
For the last 40 minutes of the train ride, the tracks sloped gently upward, carrying the train into higher elevation. Then at last, I transferred from the train to the cable car, which took 5 minutes and brought me to my final altitude of 867m (2,844 feet)!
 |
| View from the cable car. So steep! |
I walked around town, viewing some of the many temples and sites. Dozens of temples line the streets; many of them offer guest accommodations complete with authentic buddhist meals and early morning services. But alas, they are also quite expensive so I just got to take pictures from the road.
 |
| Daimon, the original entrance to the Koyasan area. |
 |
| Konpon Daito. So pretty! |
 |
| I forgot what this one was called. |
 |
| If only that branch would get out of the way, this would be a good picture! :P |
 |
I stopped for a snack along the way. This is a grilled/roasted mochi
filled with red beans. The grilling gave the mochi more of a chew. It
was delicious! |
One great attraction of Koyasan is the Okuno-in area, Surrounded by a vast cedar forest, this cemetery/holy spot is where the Buddist Kobo Daishi Kukai is said to be in eternal meditation. The graves/shrines in this forest numbers into the hundreds of thousands, the old ones covered with moss. It was breathtakingly beautiful and haunting; just like walking into another world.
 |
| Stepping back in time... |
 |
| What do these little aprons mean?!? |
 |
Little paths branched out here and there, leading to
long-forgotten shrines |
 |
| This place would probably be creepy at night! |
 |
| The cedar trees were enormous and amazing |
 |
I'll have to google why they put clothes on these statues, and place 1 yen
coins on them. |
Deep within the forest, in an area considered very sacred, lies the Gobyo Mausoleum. No pictures were allowed, so I only got a snapshot from afar.
 |
| Crossing the bridge |
With the mountain chill, chanting monks, and incense-filled air, there was a surreal feeling to this place. I took my time and browsed through; it was truly a relaxing and peaceful way to spend the afternoon!
With my spirit recharged, I headed to my accommodations for the night. I found a lovely small guest house on Koyasan, with little capsule rooms for rent. After walking around for the whole day, I was glad to get off my feet!
 |
| Koyasan Gueshouse Kokuu! |
While small, the interior was surprisingly comfortable and airy. There were 8 capsules and 3 regular rooms, shared toilet/shower facilities, and a public area/kitchen.
 |
| Inside of guesthouse |
 |
My capsule. It was surprisingly cozy, and outfitted with a really soft and
comfortable mattress. Aaaahhhh! A bed! Unfortunately I didn't sleep as
well as anticipated... perhaps due to the altitude! |
I had a great time at the guesthouse. The proprietress is an amazing cook, so I had dinner there instead of venturing out. A few other guests were also around; there was a lady from Montana who is a school counselor down in Okinawa, and a German guy doing
the Shikoku Pilgrimage (750 miles?!?! Nuts!). We had a lovely evening exchanging stories.
I awoke the next morning to the smell of freshly baking bread. What a great start to the day!
 |
| My breakfast! |
After a leisurely breakfast, I took advantage of the clear morning and walked around the Okuno-in area for a few more hours. Finally, I headed back to the real world though... and to the typhoon that is currently headed towards Osaka! What a great trip; I truly felt as if I had gone back in time!
 |
| Back down the mountain... |
