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Mausoleum of Kobo Daishi

Travel Information

The Mausoleum of Kobo Daishi Kukai (弘法大師御廟) is the most sacred place in Mt. Koya. In 835, Priest Kukai started to taking eternal meditation in this Oku no in. On the worshipping pass, there are many memorial graves of Daimyo and lords of the domain. The entire site is designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. People pray to their ancestors for their peace.

Visitor's info.
There are parking and restroom.
No photo beyond the last bridge, Gobyo bashi, and around the Mausoleum.

Access
0. at Koyasan Stataion
1. use local bus to Ichinohashi for the entrance and Okunoinmae for the mausoleum.


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Detailed Travel Guide

Mausoleum of Kobo Daishi

Okunoin, or the mausoleum of Priest Kunai is the center of the faith of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism. The correct way of the worshipping the sacred place is starting from the first bridge. The pass is about 2 km long and about 200,000 memorial graves of all Sengoku Daimyo and lords of Japan.

Gobyo-bshi, the bridge of the Mausoleum of Priest Kukai
After the crossing this bridge you enter the sacred precincts of the mausoleum of Priest Kukai. Please enter this area respectfully.
This bridge has 36 stone planks, and including the bridge itself, the entire structure represents the 37 Buddhist deities of the Diamond World Mandala. A Sanskrit letter reresenting each deity is carved on the underside of each plank.