About Mount Koya
Mount Koya is located in the northeastern part of Wakayama Prefecture and is the central area of Koyacho. The southeastern part of the town borders Nara Prefecture, the southwestern part borders Katsuragicho and Hanazonomura, and the northern part borders Hashimoto City and Kudoyamacho. The coordinates of the town are published as 135 degrees 37 minutes east and 34 degrees 14 minutes north.
Although it is called Mount Koya, there is no specific mountain called "Mount Koya." It is a general term for a mountain range that includes a series of mountains with altitudes of over one thousand meters, such as Mount Benten (984.5 meters), Mount Jingamine (1105.8 meters), Mount Yoryusan (1008.5 meters), and Mount Mani (1004.0 meters).
Surrounded by these mountains, the basin stretches 6 kilometers east to west, 3 kilometers north to south, and has a circumference of 15 kilometers, at an altitude of about 800 meters, and is home to the temple grounds centered around Kongobuji Temple, as well as many other town houses.
By the way, the town of Koya-cho itself was merged with the village of Fuki in accordance with the Town and Village Merger Promotion Act of June 1 1958, and now stretches 24 kilometers east to west, 12 kilometers north to south, and has a total area of 137.08 square kilometers.
Although it is called Mount Koya, there is no specific mountain called "Mount Koya." It is a general term for a mountain range that includes a series of mountains with altitudes of over one thousand meters, such as Mount Benten (984.5 meters), Mount Jingamine (1105.8 meters), Mount Yoryusan (1008.5 meters), and Mount Mani (1004.0 meters).
Surrounded by these mountains, the basin stretches 6 kilometers east to west, 3 kilometers north to south, and has a circumference of 15 kilometers, at an altitude of about 800 meters, and is home to the temple grounds centered around Kongobuji Temple, as well as many other town houses.
By the way, the town of Koya-cho itself was merged with the village of Fuki in accordance with the Town and Village Merger Promotion Act of June 1 1958, and now stretches 24 kilometers east to west, 12 kilometers north to south, and has a total area of 137.08 square kilometers.
Outer eight leaves, inner eight leaves
The outer rim mountains surrounding Mount Koya have been called the "Eight Outer Leaves" since ancient times. The eight leaves are so named because they symbolize the petals of a lotus flower. The inner rim mountains are called the "Inner Eight Leaves." Together with the outer eight leaves, the 16 mountains make up the sixteen bodhisattvas of the Kongokai Mandala, and it is said that Mount Koya is located at the center of the mandala, which symbolizes the lotus flower.
According to one theory, the outer eight peaks are Kongomine, Shotomine, Sannomine, Henshomine, Tenjikusan, Yoryusan, Manisan, and Koshasan, while the inner eight peaks surround the Danjo Garan and are Kenzakimine, Nankomine, Hojumine, Yakushisan, Sannomine, Jinnodake, Shotomine, and Shorenkamine (Koyasan Spring and Autumn).
According to one theory, the outer eight peaks are Kongomine, Shotomine, Sannomine, Henshomine, Tenjikusan, Yoryusan, Manisan, and Koshasan, while the inner eight peaks surround the Danjo Garan and are Kenzakimine, Nankomine, Hojumine, Yakushisan, Sannomine, Jinnodake, Shotomine, and Shorenkamine (Koyasan Spring and Autumn).
Temples of Mount Koya
Mount Koya is a major training center for Esoteric Shingon Buddhism that has protected the flame of the law throughout its long history since it was founded in Kōnin 7(816). There are currently 117 temples on the plains atop the mountain, including 53 temple lodgings where you can stay the night.
Fire and Cultural Assets
In the history of Mount Koya, there have been four fires that reportedly destroyed most of the temples within the mountain, and it is not difficult to imagine that this was a major blow to the cultural assets. During the Meiji period, there was a movement to abolish Buddhism and Shintoism, and the subsequent devastating fires caused cultural assets to be burned and scattered, which is truly unfortunate.
Only those cultural properties that survived these disasters have been passed down to the present day, but even so, within the mountain there are 23 national treasures, 193 important cultural properties, and 33 cultural properties designated by Wakayama Prefecture, and many more cultural properties that have the potential to be designated in the future. Mount Koya is truly worthy of being called a treasure trove of cultural properties and a temple of religious art.
Only those cultural properties that survived these disasters have been passed down to the present day, but even so, within the mountain there are 23 national treasures, 193 important cultural properties, and 33 cultural properties designated by Wakayama Prefecture, and many more cultural properties that have the potential to be designated in the future. Mount Koya is truly worthy of being called a treasure trove of cultural properties and a temple of religious art.
Total number of cultural properties designated by Koyasan
Type | Classification | National treasure | Important Cultural Property | Registered Cultural Property | Prefecture designated | Town designation | Shigemi | Total |
Arts and crafts | Painting | 8 | 49 | 12 | 2 | 71 | ||
Sculpture | 2 | 54 | 2 | 58 | ||||
Crafts | 1 | 31 | 10 | 42 | ||||
Calligraphy | 10 | 32 | 3 | 46 | ||||
Historical material | 2 | 2 | ||||||
Archeological material | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||
Building | Building | 2 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 36 | ||
Memorials | Historic site | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 | |||
Scenic spot | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
Natural treasure | 6 | 3 | 9 | |||||
Grand total | 23 | 188 | 20 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 278 | |
Important Cultural Property: Nationally designated important cultural property Prefecture designated: Wakayama Prefecture designated cultural property Important Art: Important Art Object
(As of February 2026)
(As of February 2026)