The pilgrims’ pain

Koyasan is one of the World Heritage Sites on the Kii Mountain Range of Japan. For the pilgrims a thousand years ago, it was a welcome sanctuary.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

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Koyasan, Japan

To appreciate the beauty, you must endure the hardships of the journey. That seems to have been the ethos of the ancient Japanese who built the shrines and temples in the south of the Kansai region. These old strongholds of religion were the destinations for pilgrims of the time but there was much for them to learn about themselves on the paths to get there.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

The pilgrimage routes which linked the temple sites in the forests to the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara were not easy paths to follow. They were scenic, sure… but they were intentionally difficult. The makers of these small roads through the Kii Mountains deliberately took them up steep inclines and through rugged bushland. In only a few places were steps or footpaths built. Suffering the arduous trip brought the pilgrims closer to divinity.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

These people, sore and fatigued, must have been amazed when they finally came to the temple complexes. Built amongst the forests in the ninth century, the shrines blend the natural elements with what would have been quite contemporary architectural design. Interestingly, they were also some of the first to blend Buddhism with Shinto – and that’s one of the things that make these sites so exceptional in the history of the country.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

My own trip to one of the sites was arduous as well. OK, not in the same way as for those who trekked hundreds of kilometres on narrow dirt paths, but I got something wrong with the train timetable and ended up on a local service that stopped at every station from Osaka. Do you know how annoying that is?! But, as the forebears would have wanted, it made me appreciate the beauty of the destination even more.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

I had chosen to go to a place called Koyasan to see one of the three sacred sites that still remains from those days. The last leg of the journey was up the steep mountain on a cablecar and it was from this vantage point I realised how little development there was in this region. For a country so full of urbanisation, it was refreshing to see the green all around. I knew that not far away it would meet with the blue of the Pacific Ocean.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

Kongobuji, Koyasan, Japan

These days there are about 120 temples in Koyasan but, after walking underneath the enormous tori gate indicating my entry to the area, I headed first for the most famous: Kongobuji. One of the reasons it is so well known is because of the intricate paintings on the sliding doors inside, as you can see in these photos.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

Wandering through the town, you definitely feel like you are somewhere spiritual. This location was chosen because it’s in a slight valley in the mountain and it was believed the eight peaks around it looked like a lotus flower. It’s that amalgamation with nature that gives it such an ethereal mood. There aren’t many places on Japan’s main island these days that are so quiet and fresh and the contrast just heightens the sensation.

Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes
Koyasan, Japan, Kii mountains, world heritage, pilgrimage routes

Escaping the noise of a big city would not have been a concern for those pilgrims more than a thousand years ago but this still would have felt like a sanctuary for them. Whether the hardships of the walk made them appreciate the beauty or just the chance to rest is probably debatable. But either way, the temple complexes like Koyasan were just as special then as they are now.

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This site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List!
I'm on a mission to visit as many World Heritage Sites as I can. Only about 800 more to go... eek!

15 thoughts on “The pilgrims’ pain”

    • I think it’s too easy just to think of Japan as a crazy place with weird technology and pastimes. The temples could be considered ‘boring’ by some travellers but there is something beautiful about the tranquility, you’re right. I’ve really enjoyed checking out the ones around the Kansai region.

      Reply
  1. aloha

    thanks for sharing this place, if I had more time in Osaka and Kyoto I would have loved to visit this amazing place, but will have to put it on my bucket list. thanks for the story and history of this unesco site

    noel

    Reply
    • That’s the problem with the Kansai area – there’s just too much to see. You could spend a couple of weeks seeing all the temples and shrines. And they are all beautiful… but they also start to look a little similar after a while.

      Reply
  2. I am finishing a book about my Japanese teacher’s time at Mount Koya Monastery where he was ordained in the Shingon Buddhist priesthood tradition. I have done a fair bit of research; however, your presentation and pictures are the best I’ve seen. It’s clear that the place touched your heart.
    Thank you for this beautiful piece/peace that captures the spirit of the place. I would like to use some quotes from this post. May I have your permission? If you give it how would you like the attribution to read?

    Reply

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