Ichi no hashi Koyasan
I went to Koyasan, huge religional city, in Wakayama pref. near Osaka.
I got a business meeting in Osaka, after that I really want to visit there.
It takes 2 hours trip by train from Osaka, little bit complicated way.
You can take Nankai railway Express to Koyasan. Namba could be a main station.
Then ride on a cable car and finally take a bus.
My goal is to reach “Oku no in temple“, where the master “Kukai” is living and praying for more than 1200 years.
Many people start from the forth bridge”Shi no hashi” but formally you should start from the first bridge”Ichi no Hashi“.
Ichi no hashi Koyasan
As you see there is a path and tall cedar trees and a lot of tombs.
It is difficult to figure out the scene in a word.
Seeing is believing.
I strongly recommend you to visit there and walk with your own feet.
Statue of Yuzaburou Sakaguchi
Koyasan has an elevation of 800 meters.
Even in a summer it is cool and the air is clear.
Walking in a wood make you feel better. I heard that trees emit a mild aroma makes you calm.
The stature is Mr. Youzaburou Sakaguchi, who developed the area “Nanba”, south part of Osaka city.
A stone that Master Kukai sat down
It is very nice to walk under the daylight.
I guess Master Kukai did the same way. He might walk in the morning.
You can see a stone that Master Koukai sat down and relaxed. It is covered by a stone frame not to sit down.
Path to the Oku no In
You can see the path, it is almost flat and paved by stone, we can walk easily.
A road with tombs on both sides.
You can not walk in the night. I heard that wild bear came out. So please not to walk alone.
Old tomb
Old tomb also has a torii gate.
Torii gate is special for Shintoism, ancient Japanese religion, the nature is the god itself.
Tomb, Buddhist tower, pagoda is special for Buddhism.
But you can see they combine in a same place.
You know ancient Japanese understood that buddha is one of the god, holly part of nature.
Asekaki Jizou
It took 15 min walk from the beginning, first bridge, Ichi no hashi.
You may sweat as same as originally people.
Here you see “Asekaki Jizou“, who sweats to show the good thing or the bad thing.
When he sweats white one there will be something good and if he got the black sweat something bad could happen.
There is a well near him. Look inside the well.
If you can see yourself on the water you can survive at least for three years if not you might gone within three years.
I did not do anything because I scared.
tomb of Ezaki, owner of famous confectionary company called Glico
The tombs are owned by personal and company and organization.
You can see Ezaki clan’s tomb. Ezaki is a family that owns famous confectionary company “Ezaki Glico”.
Monument to the disaster Hanshin Awaji Huge Earthquake
This tomb, monument pray for the victims who lost their lives in a huge earthquake, Hanshin Awaji earthquake January 17th 1995.
Path to the Eirei den
There is a monument for the soldiers and the ordinally people who dedicated their lives to protect Japan in WW2.
It is not open to the public but many people pray for.
Huge Cedar tree
Now I got the halfway to Oku no in.
Tourists were coming everywhere.
It was difficult to take picture without people.
I think it is a good thing to visit Koyasan for everyone so it is not a problem.
Kesho Jizou
When you make up this stature you would be lucky and if you are a female you will be gorgeous.
It called “Kesho Jizou“.
Oku no in temple is over there
Front of Oku no In
It took 30 min walk from the first bridge, Ichi no hashi.
Here you can see the bridge to Oku no in temple.
Okunoin Temple is a sanctuary housing the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai).
Kobo Daishi was a famous monk, scholar, engineer and the founder of Shingon Buddhism who lived from 774–835 A.D.
Legend says he is still resting within the mausoleum in a state of eternal meditation.
So master Kukai is still living and praying for the people.
You can take any picture in front of the bridge but once you cross the bridge you can not.
Because the other side of the bridge is the afterlife.
Front of Oku no In
With great respect to the master Kukai.
1 Peter 1:16
Since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”