Kongobuji Temple

Kongobuji Temple (金剛峯寺), is a Buddhist temple located on Mount Koya, or Koyasan, in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The temple is the head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism and is considered one of the most important and prestigious of the over 100 temples located on the mountain.

Kongobuji Temple was founded in 816 by the famous Japanese monk and scholar, Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi. The temple is known for its beautiful architecture, which includes a number of ornate buildings and gardens, as well as its important cultural and religious treasures.

One of the most famous features of Kongobuji Temple is its “Banryutei” (蟠龍庭) rock garden, which is considered one of the largest and most impressive of its kind in Japan. The garden features 140 granite rocks arranged in a pattern that is said to represent a dragon emerging from a sea of clouds.

The temple is also home to a number of important cultural and religious artifacts, including a collection of fusuma (sliding door) paintings. Some notable examples are “Pines and a Flock of Cranes” by Kano Tan’yu and “Snow-Covered Willow and White Eagle” by Kano Tansai, both designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

Getting there

From Osaka Station to Kongobuji Temple:

Train

Osaka Station ↓ Osaka Loop Line ↓ 13 minutes (5 stops) Shin-Imamiya Station ↓ Nankai-Limited Express ↓ 1 hour 15 minutes (7 stops) Gokurakubashi Station ↓ Nankai Koyasan Cable ↓ 5 minutes (Nonstop) Koyasan Station ↓ Walk about 7 minutes ↓ Kongobuji Temple (Cost 2,770 yen)

Details

Hours	8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Reception closes at 4:30 PM.
Admission	Junior high school students and above: 1,000 yen Elementary school students: 300 yen
Phone	+81 736-56-2011
Address	132 Koyasan, Koya, Ito District, Wakayama 648-0211
Official Website	https://www.koyasan.or.jp/