Mount Koya (Koyasan): where to eat, stay, and what to see

Today's pick for Mount Koya (Koyasan).

Kadohama Gomatofu Daimon Gate

Location: Koyasan Station (Nankai Koyasan Cable Car)

A long-established Koyasan restaurant celebrated for traditional goma dofu and shojin ryori Buddhist cuisine.

Good points:

- Specialises in goma dofu (sesame tofu), a Koyasan culinary staple, supplied to local temples.

- Serves shojin ryori, the vegetarian Buddhist cuisine made entirely from vegetables and wild plants.

- Located a short walk from Daimon Gate, Koyasan's main entrance, near the Atagomae bus stop.

- Spacious Japanese-style dining room with open terrace seating available in milder weather.

- A souvenir corner lets you take home goma dofu and goma dofu baumkuchen.

For visitors: Alight at the Atagomae bus stop on Nankai Rinkan Bus lines for the easiest access, and note that lunch service runs until mid-afternoon.

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Ekoin Temple

Location: Gokurakubashi (Nankai Railway)

Ekoin is a centuries-old Buddhist temple offering overnight lodging (shukubo) on sacred Mount Koya, Japan.

Good points:

- Stay in a working Buddhist monastery with 25 traditional Japanese-style rooms.

- Free Wi-Fi and free parking are available for guests.

- Reachable from Osaka via Nankai Railway and a cable car to Koyasan.

- Guests can experience meditation (Ajikan) and sutra-copying activities on site.

- Highly rated by guests for location, cleanliness, comfort, and breakfast.

For visitors: Plan to check in by 5:30 pm to ensure dinner is prepared, and book activities like Ajikan meditation in advance.