Mt. Kōya, or Kōyasan, is becoming increasingly popular among international tourists who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto and Osaka’s city center. The sacred mountain in Wakayama Prefecture is culturally and historically rich. In addition, it is one of the best spots in Japan to experience temple lodging, Shokubō. If the spot sounds enticing, the next question is how to get there.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Kōyasan from Kyoto
- How to Get to Kōyasan from Osaka
- About Sightseeing Train: Kōya Hanatetsudō Tenkū (こうや花鉄道 天空)
- Nankai Cable Line (高野山ケーブル)
- Nankai Rinkan Bus (南海りんかんバス)
- Discounted Kōyasan Transportation Deals
- Kōya-Ryūjin Skyline (高野龍神スカイライン)
How to Get to Kōyasan from Kyoto
Because Wakayama Prefecture is south of Osaka, take a train to Osaka first before taking the trains to Kōyasan. You can use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your trip.
How to Get to Kōyasan from Osaka
One of the easiest ways to get to Kōyasan is by taking Nankai Electric Railway’s (南海電鉄) Nankai-Kōya Line (南海高野線) from Nankai’s Hashimoto Station (橋本駅) in Osaka.
From Namba (難波), taking the express train (急行), you will be at Hashimoto Station in approximately 50-minutes.
From Hashimoto Station, direct train services connect Osaka to Kōyasan. If you have time, we would recommend taking the sightseeing train: Kōya Hanatetsudō Tenkū (こうや花鉄道 天空). For those who are in a hurry, catch the Limited Express Kōya (特急 こうや).
Note: When you get to Hashimoto Station, the green Tenkū sightseeing train (the left train in the photo above) and the white Limited Express Kōya (the right train in the photo above) might be on the platforms at the same time. Please check carefully which one you board.
About Sightseeing Train: Kōya Hanatetsudō Tenkū (こうや花鉄道 天空)
Tenkū is the sightseeing train that runs between Hashimoto Station and Gokurakubashi Station (極楽橋駅). Carrying the customers up the mountain while passing through 24 tunnels, you will be standing at 443 meters above sea level upon stepping out of the train!
Unlike most sightseeing trains in Japan, Tenkū, which consists of only four carriages, has half of the carriages dedicated to tourists. So if you want to enjoy the wide space, big windows, and the relaxing atmosphere of the sightseeing carriages, reserve your seats in advance.
Sure, it will cost a bit extra, but it will be worth every penny!
To board the sightseeing train Tenkū, a reservation is required by 5 pm the day before. Currently, this can only be done 10 days in advance by calling the Tenkū Reservation Center (天空予約センター) at +81-120-151-519 from 9 am to 5 pm.
Tip: If you don’t speak Japanese, the staff at your accommodation should be able to make the reservation on your behalf (^_-)-☆.
Important: Reservations cannot be canceled once made.
If the train isn’t booked out, it is possible to make the reservation on the day. But best not to risk it.
For more information about the timetable or the cost, please refer to the official website HERE and translate the webpage to English (with, for example, Google Chrome’s translation function to the right of the address bar).
Boarding the Sightseeing Train: Kōya Hanatetsudō Tenkū
Whether you are making a reservation in advance or are planning to get your train ticket on the day, please head to the Tenkū’s designated ticket booth when you get to Hashimoto Station. You will need to pay the seat reservation fee at the booth to get your seat reservation ticket. The booth is just at the platform, but if you are unsure, check with the station staff.
Important: At Hashimoto Station and Gokurakubashi Station (極楽橋駅), you only have a 30-minute window to get your reserved ticket or purchase the same-day ticket from the ticket counter. The window ends 10 minutes before the train’s departure time. Please don’t be late.
The sightseeing train Tenkū also has an “Observation Deck (展望デッキ)”. The carriage walls of this observation deck are partly built with glass. The top of the wall isn’t covered, allowing the wind to blow through.
The best time to be at the Observation Deck is after the train passes Shimokosawa Station (下古沢駅). The scenery from there onward is a wide view of the steep mountainous area that paints the carriage window green (or orange and red in autumn)!
When the red arch bridge – Gokuraku Bridge (極楽橋) next to the Gokurakubashi Station (極楽橋駅) becomes visible, it is time to say goodbye to Tenkū.
This bridge used to be called Fudō Bridge (不動橋) up until the Meiji period (1868 – 1912). On one side of the bridge, there is a statue of Jizō (地蔵) for people to pay their respect.
Nankai Cable Line (高野山ケーブル)
When you are ready, head to the cable car station on the other side of Gokurakubashi Station (極楽橋駅)’s concourse.
The cable car will climb up 328 meters in just 5 minutes to Kōyasan Station (高野山駅). The total distance traveled is only 0.8 km making it a steeper hill than those scaled by the trains on Kōya Line (高野線).
328 meters is roughly the same height as Tokyo Tower, so it is going to be an exciting short journey to the entrance of the many temples up in Kōyasan!
Because there are schools up in the mountain, you might find yourself standing among students if you are catching the earlier services. One of the benefits of being a student there is they get to experience the thrill of boarding the Nankai Cable Line every day (≧▽≦).
Before you head to the boarding platform, remember to get your ticket first!
- 380 yen for adults
- 190 yen for children
Tip: On the way up, sit on the left side of the car for the views going down the cliff!
From Kōyasan Station (高野山駅), you can take Nankai Bus to the attractions scattered in this Sacred land in the Sky (天空の聖地)!
Nankai Rinkan Bus (南海りんかんバス)
As you can imagine, Kōyasan covers a wide area with attractions dispersed throughout the region. So unless you enjoy hiking, taking the Nankai Rinkan Bus is a better option to travel between the temples in Kōyasan.
The official website HERE has everything you need about Nankai Rinkan Bus. If you didn’t get one of the transportation deals we mentioned earlier, check out the ticket section on the webpage for a One-Day Bus Pass. And please refer to HERE for a bus map of the Rinkan Bus.
Discounted Kōyasan Transportation Deals
Here are a few transportation deals that you can consider.
- If you are staying overnight at Kōyasan, consider the Nankai Koyasan World Heritage Ticket (高野山・世界遺産きっぷ).
- The ticket is valid for 2 days and includes the return trip from the station of purchase to Kōyasan Station (including Nankai Cable Line).
- One-way limited express ticket for the trip from Hashimoto Station to Gokurakubashi Station (極楽橋駅).
- 2-Day Bus Pass to tour around Kōyasan on Nankai Rinkan Bus (南海りんかんバス).
- Discounted admission fees to Kongōbuji Temple (金剛峯寺), Kondō (金堂), Konpondaitō (根本大塔), and Reihō-kan (霊宝館).
- Getting 10% off at some souvenir shops in Kōyasan.
- For more information, please refer to the official website HERE and translate the webpage to English by Google Chrome.
- Note: it doesn’t include the seat reservation fee for the sightseeing train Tenkū.
- For those who are planning a day trip to Kōyasan and will be using Hankyū (阪急), the Kōyasan 1-Day Ticket (高野山1dayチケット) may suit you better.
- The ticket gives you unlimited rides on Hankyū trains (阪急電車), Osaka Subways (大阪地下鉄), Nankai trains (南海電鉄) between Namba and Kōyasan Station, and Nankai Rinkan Bus (南海りんかんバス).
- For more information, please refer to the official website HERE. Again, translate to English if you don’t read Japanese. Their English webpage doesn’t have this deal when this article is written.
- Hanshin (阪神) also has a similar deal. Please refer to the Discount Plus Tickets on the left menu on the official website HERE.
Tip: If you are getting the Nankai Kōyasan World Heritage Ticket, board the Kōya Hanatetsudō Tenkū on the way back instead, so you get to utilize the limited express ticket included in the deal.
Kōya-Ryūjin Skyline (高野龍神スカイライン)
If you plan to drive your way up to Kōyasan, the 42.7 km Kōya-Ryūjin Skyline will be very scenic from late October to early November as the beech primitive forests show off their autumn colors.
The road that connects Ryūjin Onsen (龍神温泉) to Kōyasan and then the summit (at an altitude of around 1,300 meters) is the mountain road that represents the Kansai region.
From the observatory and the lookouts along the road, you can see the overwhelming autumn colors of the Kii Mountains, which unfold like a Ukiyo-e painting.
From late November, the trees at the higher altitude will be covered by rime, giving you another fantastic scene to enjoy!
Other Places to Visit in Kōyasan
Now you know how to get to Kōyasan, it is time to find out what are there to see in the sacred mountain.
Find out more information on Okunoin (奥之院), where Kōbō Daishi entered a deep meditation, as well as Danjō Garan (壇上伽藍), where most of the important cultural properties are located, and where you can stay for a night in our article on Kōyasan!
