Climb to Koya-san
Mount Koya, or Koya‑san (高野山, 800 m), is the center of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most important sacred sites in Japanese Buddhism. Kukai (774–835), widely known as Kobo‑Daishi , founded the Shingon sect. Last Sunday, I cycled alone from Osaka to Mount Koya. Route 371 was a demanding climb — narrow, steep, and running deep through a valley — and I had to cross the Routou Pass (狼頭峠). Koya‑san had a solemn, sacred atmosphere, and there were many foreign visitors. I ate a small bento from a convenience store early in the afternoon, then enjoyed the long downhill on Route 480 toward the Kinokawa River. The final challenge on the way back to Osaka was the Nabetani Pass (鍋谷峠). The whole tour turned out to be much harder than I expected. Distance: 119.58 km Average speed: 16.0 km/h Max speed: 58.9 km/h Pedal time: 7:26:27 Duration: 9:32:45 Elevation gain: 2,951 m Daimon-Gate Route map Routou Pass A small tunnel suddenly appears. Koya-san Okunoi...