Day 4: Koyasan to Kyoto

The day begins in Koyasan with a predawn morning ceremony at Eko-in Temple, followed by a quiet walk through the cedar-lined paths of Okunoin Cemetery and the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi. From here, we begin our descent—first by bus, then aboard the steep Koyasan cable car, which glides down the mountainside with sweeping views over forests and valleys. It’s one of the most memorable transitions of the journey, linking Japan’s spiritual highlands to the world below.

By late morning, we connect to the limited express train bound for Kyoto, arriving in the early afternoon. Depending on group energy, we’ll visit either the shimmering Golden Temple (Kinkaku-ji) or the hillside Kiyomizu-dera Temple, with its sweeping stage and atmospheric Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes—a fitting first taste of Kyoto’s timeless grace.