Okunoin in Koyasan
Within Koyasan, the most sacred spot in mind of most faithful is the resting place of founder Koba Daishi. In 835, according to believers, he passed into nirvana and awaits the coming of Maitreya, the Future Buddha in a state of eternal meditation.
The entrance to Okunoin is marked by the Ichi-no-hashi, the First Bridge. From here, pilgrims proceed along a cobblestone path that leads two kilometers to the Gobyo, Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum. The path winds passes through Japan’s largest graveyard, with about 200,000 graves scattered among towering, ancient cedars. Many of Japan’s most famous sons and daughters are buried here, including Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and others.
In front of the Gobyo, the Hall of Lanterns is hung with thousands of lanterns donated by worshipers. It’s said that two of these have been steadily burning for over 900 years. At the Gobyo itself, you are standing on Koyasan’s holiest ground. Among other things, this means that eating and photography are not permitted.
550 Koyasan, Koya-cho Oaza, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
Gokuraku-bashi Station of Nankai Koya Line===(5 min. by Nankai Koya Cable Car)===Koyasan station===(20 min. by Nankai Rinkan Bus)===Okunoin Mae bus stop
Koyasan Official Website
http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/index.html
