Kōyasan Choishi-michi Trail from Kudoyama (Jison-in) to Kōyasan – Sacred Pilgrimage via Mount Kōya, Japan

Region: Kōyasan Choishi-michi – from Kudoyama Station (Jison-in) to Kōyasan, Japan

Places To Stay: Start at Kudoyama Station near Jison-in with handy station-side stays, then finish on the sacred plateau of Kōyasan with atmospheric shukubō (temple lodgings). Expect quiet country homes at the trailhead and traditional tatami rooms with vegetarian shōjin ryōri and morning services at the top.

Looking for more trails in Japan? Visit my Japan Hiking Trails page.

Below are 3 ideas for trips, and day tours in Kōyasan. GetYourGuide offer great discounts and availability + Much more!

For a wider choice of accommodation in the Kudoyama, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

The Choishi-michi is the classic pilgrim approach to Kōyasan. Beginning at Jison-in in Kudoyama, it follows stone waymarkers (the choishi) as it climbs into cedar forests and along old mountain lanes to the bright vermilion Daimon Gate on Kōyasan’s ridge. At roughly 21 km, it’s a full day on the feet — but the rhythm of shrines, statues, and tea-stop hamlets turns the climb into a meditative journey.

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Nearest major airports: Kansai (Osaka) for Kudoyama/Kōyasan access.

Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link

• Start/Finish: Start at Jison-in (Kudoyama Station) and finish near Daimon Gate / Danjō Garan in Kōyasan.
• Transport: Nankai lines from Osaka → Kudoyama Station.
• Download the GPX file here for GPS/watch use.
• You can follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.

Hike Profile

• Distance: ~21 km (Kudoyama → Kōyasan)
• Duration: 6–9 hours (fit walkers often 7–8 hrs)
• Ascent: ~1,000–1,200 m total
• Difficulty: Moderate–challenging (sustained climb, long day)
• Terrain: Forest paths, stone steps, rural lanes, shrine precincts

Stages & Distances (Typical Day Walk)

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Hike Description

At the foot of the mountains in Kudoyama, the bells of Jison-in mark the start of the pilgrim climb. Stone lanterns and quiet lanes lead you toward the first of the trail’s choishi pillars. Each one is a countdown to Kōyasan, five-sided markers set every 109 meters since medieval times. With every pillar you pass, the modern world falls a little further away.

Beyond the town boundary the path tilts upward, weaving through cypress and cedar. The sunlight filters through and the air smells of resin and damp leaf litter. Wayside shrines and statues appear at bends in the trail, small reminders that this is not just a hike but a devotional route walked by monks, merchants, and samurai for centuries.

Occasional hamlets break the forest: clusters of tiled farmhouses, vegetable plots, a vending machine humming by a wooden bus stop. Then it’s back into the trees, the sound of your steps on earth and stone, the steady rhythm of breath and heart. The choishi markers keep you honest, no need to clock watch; just count the pillars instead.

Higher up, the path steepens, and views open toward the Kinokawa valley. On misty days the valley becomes a sea of cloud with islands of dark green ridge. The last kilometres roll gently through temple woods until a burst of vermilion cuts the trees: the great Daimon Gate, flanked by guardian statues. Passing beneath it is like stepping through time into monastic Kōyasan — pagodas, prayer halls, and quiet lanes lined with temple lodgings.

Stay the night on the plateau if you can. Evening sutras and pre-dawn prayers lend the journey its final note, and a hot bowl of shōjin ryōri after a long day of climbing tastes like a reward earned one stone pillar at a time.

Walk this route yourself in 3D!

The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.

I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.

Kōyasan Choishi-michi – 3D Walkthrough

Places to Stay (Trailhead & Finish)

Book ahead — Kōyasan temple lodgings are popular and Kudoyama has limited beds near the trailhead.

Start – Kudoyama / Jison-in area

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Ito-gun – House – Vacation STAY 31960v

Quiet countryside holiday home with kitchen, Wi-Fi and parking — an easy launch pad for an early start (rated ~9.2 “Superb”).

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Nipponia Hotel Kōyasan Pilgrimage Railway (station inn)

Self-check-in stay by the station with kitchenette and hot tub — super convenient for dawn departures (rated ~8.5 “Very Good”).

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Finish – Kōyasan (temple town)

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Eko-in Temple (Shukubō)

Atmospheric temple stay with morning prayers and goma fire ritual; tatami rooms and serene gardens.

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Sekishoin (Shukubō)

Classic shukubō near Okunoin approach; shōjin ryōri dinners and a calm, traditional setting.

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For a wider choice of accommodation in the Kudoyama, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.

Practicalities

• Start early: It’s a long steady climb — daylight buffer helps.
• Food & water: Limited en route; top up in Kudoyama and carry snacks.
• Footing: Stone steps can be slick after rain; grippy shoes are a plus.
• Etiquette: This is a live pilgrimage — be respectful at shrines/temples.
• Weather: Valley heat ↔ cool ridge; pack layers and rain gear.

Below are 3 ideas for tours in Osaka to pair with your Kōyasan trip. Browse more.

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Kōyasan Choishi-michi FAQs

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