Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring the memorial complex, as the ornate halls and surrounding grounds require time to appreciate the intricate details.
At a Glance
Six Tokugawa shoguns and their wives are buried here in ornate grave towers, some cast in bronze to reflect the immense wealth and status of the clan during the Edo period.
Located on Mount Koya, this Buddhist memorial complex honors two of Japan's most powerful shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada, whose family ruled for over 250 years.
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Facilities
Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring the memorial complex, as the ornate halls and surrounding grounds require time to appreciate the intricate details.
Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring the memorial complex, as the ornate halls and surrounding grounds require time to appreciate the intricate details.
Visit on a weekday morning if possible to avoid the crowds that gather on weekends and afternoons, allowing you to move through the memorial halls at your own pace and sit quietly to reflect on the historical significance of the Tokugawa shoguns buried here.
Visit on a weekday morning if possible to avoid the crowds that gather on weekends and afternoons, allowing you to move through the memorial halls at your own pace and sit quietly to reflect on the historical significance of the Tokugawa shoguns buried here.
Maintain a respectful, quiet demeanor throughout your visit, especially when walking through the memorial halls dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada.
Maintain a respectful, quiet demeanor throughout your visit, especially when walking through the memorial halls dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada.
Seasonal celebrations and special occasions
Koyasan Buddhist Sermon Updates
Official Koyasan Buddhist sermons are updated twice monthly on the 1st and 15th, with the latest sermons available on the official YouTube channel.
Crime Victim Support Joint Declaration Ceremony in Koyasan
A joint declaration ceremony with Koya Town, Wakayama Prefectural Police, Kongobuji, and cooperating organizations, including a lecture by relatives of victims of the Kyoto Animation arson attack and public-awareness activities for foreign visitors.
Not confirmed
More ways to continue from this place.
Within 300 m Within 600 m
Discount passes that cover getting here and around.
Required in addition to the base fare unless that direction's reserved seat is included in your ticket. The World Heritage upgrade covers outward Koya only.
Buy passFor visitors who need several bus rides without an existing bus-inclusive ticket.
Buy passOptional sightseeing train. Check its operating calendar and reserve a specific departure. Dining plans are separate products with different inclusions.
Buy passPay as you go; add your actual bus rides. A pass is not automatically the cheapest choice.
Buy passKoya, Wakayama Prefecture
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Allow at least two to three hours to explore the memorial complex, as the ornate halls and surrounding grounds reward a leisurely visit. A weekday morning is the quietest time, while weekends and afternoons tend to draw larger crowds.
Keep your voice low and behave respectfully throughout, particularly in the memorial halls dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada. The peaceful setting also gives you time to pause and reflect.
CGChristopher Gillespie left a review
Well kept and clean - super interesting that one is Buddhist and the other is Shinto
