Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koyasan?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koyasan?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Koyasan, Japan? Most people spend one to two days in Koyasan during their visit. After all, the spiritual town will let you tour the famous sights and museums, learn about the history of the town, wander through the small town, and discover the nearby hiking trails.
Mount Kōya, or Koyasan is a traditional and historic temple complex that has long been the site of spiritual pilgrimages. It's mountain setting and many impressive temples have made it a popular tourist destination. Many visitors prefer to do a temple stay during their visit.
Do you have one or two days to visit Koyasan? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Koyasan?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the spiritual town of Koyasan, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, learn about the history of the town, wander through the small town, and discover the nearby hiking trails. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around one to two days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Koyasan
Don't miss Kongobu-ji Head Temple during your trip to Koyasan, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There are cafes in town that serve simple udon noodle dishes and other local options. If you do a temple stay, it will likely include a meal, which is usually vegetarian and prepared by Buddhist monks. A typical menu includes miso soup, soba, pickled vegetables, tofu, tempura vegetables, rice, tea, and melon. Breakfast is similar but smaller in size.
Koyasan is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Once you reach the town its relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Koyasan?
Many visitors choose to spend around a weekend in Koyasan. This would give you the chance to experience the town's most popular activities such as the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, and the small town charm. Since many visitors prefer to spend around one to two days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the spiritual destination.
Temple at Mount Koya, Japan
How to spend 2 days in Koyasan
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Koyasan will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Koyasan a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. This spiritual destination is filled with temples. Some of the most notable are Okunoin Temple, Torodo Hall, Kongobuji Temple, Danjo Garan, and Daimon (the Great Gate).
Koyasan is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The town is quaint and filled with history and spirituality.
Public transit in Koyasan is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. To get to town you'll take a cable car and then a bus (or taxi, but you can't walk). Once you're in town, almost everything is in the town center and doesn't require transit.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Koyasan, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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