Koyasan Guide: Kongobuji Admission, Okunoin Hours and November 2026 Closures
Koyasan, the mountaintop temple town in Wakayama, has one of Japan's most atmospheric cemeteries. Kongobuji's admission fees and the common ticket, Okunoin's lantern hall hours and the viewing restrictions this November.
Koyasan (Mt. Koya) is the head of Shingon Buddhism, a quiet mountaintop temple town reached from Osaka. Visitors come for Kongobuji, the head temple, and Okunoin, a huge forest cemetery that leads to the mausoleum of the founder, Kobo Daishi.
At a glance
- Kongobuji main hall: ¥1,000 (junior high and older)
- Common admission ticket: ¥2,500
- Okunoin's Torodo (Lantern Hall): open 6:00–17:00
- November 2026: a few Kongobuji halls are closed for ceremonies on some days
Kongobuji: fees and hours
Admission from Kongobuji's official fee page:
| Site | Junior high and older | Elementary | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kongobuji main hall | ¥1,000 | ¥300 | 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30) |
| Kondo | ¥500 | Free | 8:30–17:00 |
| Konpon Daito (Great Pagoda) | ¥500 | Free | 8:30–17:00 |
| Tokugawa Mausoleum | ¥200 | Free | 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:10) |
| Nyonindo | Free | Free | 9:00–16:30 |
Preschool children are free at Kongobuji.
Common ticket: Kongobuji also sells a common admission ticket for ¥2,500 (junior high and older; not available for elementary school children and younger). See Kongobuji's fee page for exactly which sites it covers, and compare it with the individual prices above before you buy.
Okunoin
Okunoin is a long forest path lined with gravestones, leading to the Torodo (Lantern Hall). The Torodo is open 6:00–17:00.
The Kongobuji page we read lists no entry fee for the Okunoin area itself. Memorial services and prayers have separate fees. Many people walk Okunoin in the early morning or evening.
November 2026: restrictions at Kongobuji
Kongobuji issued a notice that some halls have viewing restrictions in November 2026 because of annual ceremonies, and it asks visitors to be careful when buying or using the common ticket. According to the temple's November calendar:
| Date | Time | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| November 11 | 12:00–17:00 | Okuden hall closed to visitors |
| November 13 | 10:00–12:00 | Jodan-no-ma and Ohiroma (main reception rooms) closed to visitors |
| November 16 | 10:00–12:00 | Jodan-no-ma and Ohiroma closed to visitors |
| November 16 | 12:00–15:00 | Okushoin closed to visitors |
On other listed days (such as November 6, 10, 18 and 20), ceremonies take place in some halls but viewing is allowed. The temple also noted that changes may occur, and it holds an event on November 11, 14:00–16:00 at Shinbetsuden, where the Kongobuji admission fee is required.
Check before you go
Restrictions change by date. Check Kongobuji's notices page the week you travel, especially in November and during other temple events.
Getting there and staying overnight
Koyasan is reached from Osaka's Namba Station on the Nankai Railway, then a cable car and a bus up the mountain. We could not read Nankai's current ticket page, so check Nankai for the fare and any discount ticket.
Many visitors stay in a shukubo, a temple lodging, which includes vegetarian meals and morning prayers. We could not confirm current shukubo prices, so check the official booking site.
Tips
- Go early or stay the night to walk Okunoin in the quiet hours.
- Bring warm clothes. Koyasan is high in the mountains and is cooler than Osaka.
- Check closures at Kongobuji before you plan your day around it.
Sources
Prices change
Prices, exchange rates and rules in this article were checked on the date shown above. They can change at any time, so please confirm on the official website before you book or buy.
