{"id":10326,"date":"2015-10-23T17:59:23","date_gmt":"2015-10-23T16:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.insidejapantours.com\/?p=10326"},"modified":"2020-03-25T12:55:17","modified_gmt":"2020-03-25T12:55:17","slug":"how-not-to-visit-mount-koya-a-step-by-step-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/23\/how-not-to-visit-mount-koya-a-step-by-step-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How not to visit Mount Koya: A step-by-step guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>My visit to Mount Koya was a catalogue of errors. I present them to you here so that you might learn from my mistakes, and never attempt the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My first error was not booking accommodation in advance (this is an error that I committed frequently during my time in Japan, and from which I never learned. There are not enough hotels in Japan!) By the time I got my act together and began looking online for a room about a week before my trip, there was nothing left at all.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a problem! I thought to myself. I shall simply make a day trip of it. This was error number two.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10328\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018.jpg\" alt=\"The gateway to Okunoin cemetery\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210018-780x585.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Having taken an early bus for the three-hour journey from Nagoya to Osaka, arriving on time and according to plan, I boarded the first of the several achingly slow trains I would need to take to reach Mount Koya. At Hashimoto Station I had to change trains, so I asked a friendly old man which one I should catch. Aren&#8217;t the Japanese people so lovely and helpful! I thought to myself, as I boarded said train. It was only when I had been deposited in the middle of ass-bloody-nowhere, having stopped at every one-horse town along the way and watched as several direct trains to Koya thundered past me, that I realised I had made error number three.<\/p>\n<p>After waiting in this deserted station for about an hour, I finally boarded a train that would take me (albeit slowly, ever so painfully slowly) to Mount Koya. At the end of the line, I hopped on the funicular that would take me to the very top of the mountain. Success at last! I had arrived, and only several hours later than expected.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231.jpg\" alt=\"Snowy monk\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P32100231-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At this point I could mention another misconception under which I had been labouring, which was that when it is warm, sunny and spring-like in Osaka (which at this time it was), the same would be true in Mount Koya. Alas, this was not so. As I stepped out of my final station I was greeted by a full-blown snowstorm. As it turns out, the weather can be quite different when you go from sea level to 800 metres \u2013 go figure.<\/p>\n<p>I am hesitant to call this error number four, since in the end it didn\u2019t diminish my enjoyment of Koya at all \u2013 in fact it rather added to the atmosphere \u2013 so let\u2019s just call this a surprise, which indeed it was.<\/p>\n<p>Now I was faced with a couple of hours until dark and the prospect of an equally arduous train journey home, and I had only just arrived at my destination. D\u2019oh. When would I have time to hunt for the mummified \u201cmermaid\u201d rumoured to be housed at one of the nearby temples?! And when would I get a chance to search for the insect memorial, erected in Okunoin graveyard by an extermination company? I wouldn\u2019t, is the answer. Instead, I would barely have time to race around the area\u2019s famous sites, stopping off ever so briefly at the town\u2019s great red pagoda and racing around Okunoin like a blue-arsed fly.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10342\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10342\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag.jpg\" alt=\"The Konpon Daito Pagoda - especially bright when everything around it is so grey\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/redpag-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10342\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Konpon Daito Pagoda &#8211; especially bright when everything around it is so grey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It is testament to the captivating atmosphere of Mount Koya that despite visiting under the most harried conditions possible, it was still my favourite place in the whole of Japan. Don\u2019t dismiss this as just another collection of temples and pagodas \u2013 it is much better than that. There is no good way to describe wandering through the town\u2019s silent and seemingly endless cemetery, surrounded by a thick forest of Japanese cedars with snow whipping through the trees, mostly without another soul in sight. As a seasoned curmudgeon and thoroughly difficult-to-please traveller I do not give this praise lightly, believe me.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10332\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10332\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067.jpg\" alt=\"Thousands of small Jizo statues form a pyramid near the heart of Okunoin\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210067-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10332\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thousands of small Jizo statues form a pyramid near the heart of Okunoin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Was it worth the effort? Absolutely. Would I recommend Mount Koya as a day trip? Not a chance. So visit Koya, but don\u2019t do as I did. Make sure you have time to wander Okunoin thoroughly, getting up early in the mist or visiting late in the evening by lantern-light. Spend the night at a temple lodging, attend a morning prayer ceremony, and enlist a local guide to teach you all about Kobo Daishi and the region\u2019s fascinating history. I can assure you that it will not disappoint!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10334\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10334\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101.jpg\" alt=\"Wandering through the towering cedar forests is a bewitching experience\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210101-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wandering through the towering cedar forests is a bewitching experience<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117.jpg\" alt=\"Statue in the cemetery\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210117-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10331\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10331\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061.jpg\" alt=\"Lantern Hall\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210061-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thousands of perenially lit lanterns hang in Okunoin&#8217;s Lantern Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10337\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127.jpg\" alt=\"Sunlight through the canopy\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210127-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115.jpg\" alt=\"Chilly statues cuddle up for warmth\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210115-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040.jpg\" alt=\"Jizo pyramid\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/P3210040-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Book a stay in Mount Koya with InsideJapan Tours and you&#8217;re guaranteed to avoid my mistakes. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/self-guided-japan-holidays\/i-ppc\/pilgrims-paths\/\">Pilgrim&#8217;s Paths<\/a> itinerary and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/i-hj\/hidden-japan\/\">Hidden Japan<\/a> group tour both include stays in atmospheric Mount Koya.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F10326\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! My visit to Mount Koya was a catalogue of errors. I present them to you here so that you might learn from my mistakes, and never attempt the same. My first error was not booking accommodation in advance (this is an error that I committed frequently during [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2360],"tags":[1366,2246,2595,2596,2597],"class_list":["post-10326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travellers-tales-from-japan","tag-buddhism","tag-travel-tips","tag-mount-koya","tag-koya-san","tag-travelogue"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10326"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26075,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326\/revisions\/26075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}