(高野山) Koyasan

With beautiful, seemingly fog themed shrines, Koyasan has been a fascinating attraction for me for years now. 

Budget: JPY2,780 (~USD27)

• JPY1,780. Train, Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station (JPY890 one way)
• JPY500. Cable car, one way.
• JPY500. Bus, one way. Or a JPY830 unlimited day pass. 

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 373m / 1,224ft)

• Target 2020
• Difficulty: 1 out of 5
• Route below is around 9.8kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲456m/ ▽456m
• Map of the area. Map credits: Main map | Inlay Map

When to Go
Anytime during the year!

Special Notes

• Background. This place one of the three holiest places in Japan, along with Kyoto's Hieizan and Aomori's Osorezan. Therefore, understanding it a bit more provides a much deeper appreciation of the place.
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• Trailhead. I think this place has turned into a little town in the mountain, and that town is now the "trailhead". Further, Mt. Koya = town, as opposed to a summit. Anyways, either I get there and clarify it, or this remains a question to this blog post for a while. Access steps below, but there's a timetable provided here. 
• Train, Namba Station (Osaka) to Gokurakubashi Station.  
• Cable Car, Gokurakubashi Station to Koya Station. Timetable at https://www.nankaikoya.jp/en/stations/timetable.html
• Bus, Koya Station to Okunoin-mae. Go to http://www.rinkan.co.jp/global/en/timetable/, and click number "1. Koyasan Sta".

• Mountains
• Mt. Tenjiku (転軸山), 930m
• Mt. Benten (弁天岳), 984.2m
• Mt. Youryuu (楊柳山), 1,009m
• Mt. Mani (摩尼山)

Itinerary

• 05:06am. Train, Namba (Nankai) Station to Kawachinagano. Transfer for the train that goes to Gokurakubashi. 
• 07:01am. ETA: Gokurakubashi Station.
• 07:06am. Cable car, Gokurakubashi to Koyasan. 
• 07:14am. Bus, Koyasan to Okunoin-mae. If missed, the next cable car is at 8:01am. 
• Upon arrival at Okunoin-mae, start walking the Women Pilgrim's Course, 5kms, 100minutes. 
• Try to summit, Mt. Youryuu (楊柳山)
• Try to summit, Mt. Tenjiku (転軸山)
• Try to summit, Mt. Benten (弁天岳)
• Daimon Gate. Follow the Koyasan Choishi Michi Trail, up to Kudoyama Station. 
• Summit, Mt. Benten (弁天岳), 984.2m

It all started with an empty train!