Mt. Koya & Buddhist Cuisine

OVERVIEW

Explore several Shingon Buddhist temples on sacred Mount Koya and enjoy a meal of Buddhist devotion cuisine that is entirely plant-based. To set the tone for this serene experience, you will walk through a dense cedar forest, where many of Japan’s greatest historical and royal figures are buried. After about a mile, you will arrive at Okunoin Temple, where monk and poet Kōbō-Daishi – who founded this sect of Buddhism in the early 9th century – lies in a mausoleum. Depending on the time of day, you may see pilgrims leaving offerings to the monk, who is also known as Kūkai. You will then dine at Fukuchi-in temple on seasonal vegetables and mountain plants, a traditional Buddhist cuisine known as shojin ryori. At the nearby temple Danjo Garan, you will see its famed vermillion pagoda, which contains a statue of the central Buddha in Shingon Buddhism and a rare three-dimensional metaphysical map of the cosmos.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit two Shingon Buddhist temple complexes on sacred Mount Koya.
• Gain an understanding of Shingon Buddhism, which dates to the 9th century.
• Walk to the mausoleum of Kōbō-Daishi, who founded this sect of Buddhism.
• Dine on a traditional Buddhist vegetarian meal at Fukuchi-in temple.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.