Sleep Inside a Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to a Koyasan Shukubo (Temple Stay)

Introduction

There is a moment, somewhere around 6:55 AM on the morning after your first shukubo stay at Koyasan, when the bell tolls from the main hall and the cold cedar corridor carries the low drone of sutra chanting from somewhere just beyond the paper screen. You are still half-asleep, wrapped in the yukata the temple put out for you, and you realize that nothing in any Osaka capsule hotel or Kyoto machiya rental could have produced this feeling — the sensation of being an unremarkable guest inside a living, breathing, thousand-year-old religious community.

That is the entire point of a shukubo stay, and Koyasan — Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, the sacred mountain founded by the monk Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) in 816 CE — is the best place in Japan to have it.

The mountain sits at roughly 800 meters above sea level, its temple town cradled inside a ring of eight forested peaks. Of the 117 temples here, 52 open their doors as shukubo — overnight lodgings where paying guests sleep in tatami rooms, eat multi-course vegetarian dinners, and join the resident monks for morning prayer. This is not a theme park recreation of temple life. Kōyasan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a functioning center of Shingon Buddhism, and the shukubo tradition predates the concept of “tourism” by several centuries. You are, in a real sense, a guest of the temple.

This guide is everything you need to book one, show up correctly, and get the most out of every hour — from the booking window you cannot afford to miss, to the exact time-stamped schedule of a typical stay, to the meal etiquette rules that no one will tell you at the door.

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Quick Summary

Detail	Info
What it is	Overnight stay in a working Buddhist temple on sacred Mt. Koya
Price range	¥15,000–¥40,000 per person/night (dinner + breakfast included)
Number of temples	52 shukubo accepting guests
Best booking platform	Official Koyasan Shukubo Association site (koyasan-shukubo.net) or Booking.com
Book how far in advance	2–3 months for regular weekends; 4–6 months for autumn (Oct–Nov)
Payment	Most temples: cash only at check-out
Morning service time	Typically 6:00–7:00 AM (goma fire ritual follows, ~7:30 AM at temples like Eko-in)
Best season	Late April–May (spring); late Oct–early Nov (autumn foliage)
Access from Osaka	Nankai Koya Line from Namba → Gokurakubashi → cable car → bus (~2 hrs total)
JR Pass valid?	No — Nankai Railway is private; consider the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket

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Getting to Koyasan: The Journey Is Part of It

Why the approach matters

The journey to Koyasan is deliberate by design. No bullet train stops here. Getting there requires switching from a commuter line to a limited express, then to a cable car that hauls you up a forested cliff face, then to a small bus that winds into a valley of cedar giants and moss-covered stone. By the time you arrive, the altitude change and the gradual slowing of transport have already begun to shift your mental gear.

Access

Koyasan is most conveniently reached by Nankai Railway from Osaka’s Namba or Shin-Imamiya stations. Take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station, the line’s mountain terminus. Limited Express trains (the “Koya” or premium “Gran Tenku” services) run the route in about 80 minutes; regular Express and Rapid Express trains take around 100 minutes and usually require a transfer at Hashimoto Station. Fares vary: the Limited Express costs around ¥1,880 for an e-ticket on top of the base fare; the express option runs about ¥930.

At Gokurakubashi, transfer to the Koyasan Cable Car — a 5-minute funicular ride up the mountain face — for ¥500. From Koyasan Station at the top, a Nankai Rinkan Bus takes about 10 minutes to the town center at Senjuinbashi bus stop for ¥460 (buses run frequently; the whole route is served by the town bus network).

Important: The route from the cable car station to the town center is a road where walking is not permitted — the bus is not optional here, it’s required.

Money-saving pass: Consider a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket from Nankai Railway, which bundles a round-trip train fare, the cable car, and unlimited town buses for one or two consecutive days. After a 2026 price increase it costs ¥3,980–¥4,210 and still likely pays off once bus usage is factored in.

From Kyoto: Travel time is longer — typically via Namba (using JR or subway to Osaka, then Nankai) or via Tengachaya — and the total journey runs 2.5–3 hours. Plan accordingly; check-in at most shukubo is from 3:00 PM, and arriving after 5:30 PM can cause complications with meal preparation.

Best time to visit / times to avoid

Koyasan rewards visitors in every season but the character changes dramatically. Late October to early November is the single most spectacular window: the maples and ginkgos reach their peak — roughly two to three weeks earlier than in Kyoto, thanks to the higher altitude — and the Okunoin cemetery lit by morning mist and red canopy is one of the more genuinely memorable scenes in the Kansai region.

The trade-off is crowds and cost. Weekend shukubo prices spike sharply during autumn peak, and popular temples sell out weeks or months in advance. If you wait until a few weeks before departure, you may pay ¥50,000 or more for a night that would normally cost ¥20,000.

For crowd-averse travelers: late January to mid-February sees the lowest visitor numbers year-round, with the bonus of snow on the stone lanterns in Okunoin — a completely different, quieter spectacle.

Avoid: Late July and August, when Japanese school groups flood the mountain to escape the valley heat. Golden Week (late April/early May) is also extremely busy for day visitors, though still a beautiful time for a shukubo stay if booked early enough.

Practical weather note: Koyasan runs 5–10°C colder than Osaka year-round. Pack at minimum one more layer than the Osaka forecast suggests. In autumn and winter, older temple corridors have minimal heating — thick futons are provided, but the walk from your room to the bathroom at 6 AM in November is genuinely cold.

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How to Book Your Shukubo: The Step-by-Step

Why this is worth doing correctly

Booking a shukubo is not quite like booking a hotel, and the process differs enough that getting it wrong — too late, on the wrong platform, without noting the payment policy — can mean either missing the stay entirely or an unpleasant surprise at check-out.

The two main booking routes

Route 1: Official Koyasan Shukubo Association (koyasan-shukubo.net/en)
This is the authoritative source, covering all 52 shukubo temples on the mountain. The site now offers two options:

• Instant booking — a growing selection of temples (currently including Hojo-in, Kodai-in, Fugen-in, Daien-in, Fudo-in, and Eko-in) with real-time availability and immediate confirmation. This is the cleanest option if your preferred temple is on the list.
• Booking Request service — you submit your dates, preferences, and party size; the Association’s secretariat contacts temples on your behalf and emails you an available option. This is especially useful if your dates are flexible or if the instant-booking temples are full. Your card is registered as a guarantee but is not charged for the stay itself — payment happens directly at the temple, almost always in cash.

Route 2: Booking.com or Agoda
Several of the most foreigner-friendly temples, including Eko-in and others, list directly on Booking.com. This is useful if you want a single platform for your entire Japan accommodation, and payment policies may differ (Booking.com may charge your card on behalf of the temple). Confirm the specific temple’s cash policy when you book.

Booking deadlines — the rule of thumb

• Regular weeknights (low season): Book 4–6 weeks in advance minimum; popular temples like Eko-in fill even in winter.
• Weekend nights (any season): Book 2–3 months in advance.
• Autumn foliage peak (late Oct–early Nov): Book 4–6 months in advance. This is not an exaggeration. The most-requested temples — especially those known for goma fire rituals — consistently sell out for entire foliage weekends.
• Golden Week and spring cherry blossoms: Same as autumn: 4–6 months.

Price: what you actually get for the money

A standard shukubo stay — one tatami-floor room, one shojin ryori dinner, one shojin ryori breakfast, access to morning services, and use of the communal bath — runs roughly ¥15,000–¥25,000 per person per night for most temples. Higher-end temples with private garden views, en-suite facilities, or more elaborate meals can reach ¥40,000 per person. This is comparable to a mid-range business hotel in Osaka or Kyoto once you factor in two meals.

Cash policy: Most temples accept cash only at check-out. There are no ATMs inside the temple — plan to arrive with enough yen, ideally withdrawn in Osaka before you board the train.

Dietary restrictions: Notify the temple at booking time. Shojin ryori is already vegan by default (no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy), but allergy requirements — especially nuts, gluten, or soy — need to be communicated in advance, not at dinner.

What to book if you want a Goma fire ritual specifically

Not every shukubo performs the goma (Homa) fire ritual — some offer only a sutra-chanting morning service. If the fire ritual is the primary experience you are coming for, prioritize temples known for it: Eko-in is the most well-documented and foreigner-accessible, with its Goma ritual held daily. See the next section for the exact schedule.

For first-timers uncertain which temple to pick, use the Association’s Booking Request service and tell the secretariat that participation in a goma fire ritual is a priority — they will match you accordingly.

Consider a Koyasan temple stay experience if you’d prefer a guided package that handles the logistics of the booking, transfer, and schedule in English.

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The Full Shukubo Schedule: What a Stay Actually Looks Like

A time-stamped guide to your 18 hours at Eko-in (and most other shukubo)

The following schedule is based on Eko-in’s official published timetable — one of the most English-documented shukubo on the mountain — and is broadly representative of what guests experience across the 52 temples, with minor variations by temple.

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Day 1

14:00 — Check-in opens
A monk or temple staff member meets you at the entrance. Remove your shoes at the genkan (entrance step) and place them in the wooden cubby — you will not put them back on until you leave. You are given a room key, your yukata (cotton robe) and, at many temples, slippers for moving around the corridors.

14:00–16:00 — Free time / temple exploration
Your room is a tatami-floored space, typically facing a garden. The décor is minimal: a low table, a tokonoma (alcove) with a simple scroll or seasonal arrangement, a calligraphy brush set. This is intentional. Spend the afternoon walking the grounds — most shukubo open their garden and inner temple precincts to guests — or venture to Okunoin Cemetery, a 20-minute walk from most temples, ideally timed to arrive before the daylight fades.

16:00–16:30 — Communal bath (onsen or public bath)
Most shukubo have shared baths open from mid-afternoon. This is typically your one hot-water luxury of the stay. Bathe in silence, leave the bath area as you found it, and return to your room in your yukata.

16:30 — Optional: Ajikan meditation or sutra copying (if booked)
Eko-in and several other temples offer Ajikan (a seated Shingon meditation practice) and shakyo (sutra-copying with a calligraphy brush) as optional extras included free for overnight guests. These must be requested at booking time, not at the door, and sessions are typically limited to small groups. If the goma fire ritual is the reason you are here, this is the afternoon activity worth adding — it contextualizes the morning ceremony.

17:30 — Shojin ryori dinner served in your room
This is the meal you have been told about. A monk or staff member sets up a series of small lacquered dishes on a low vermillion table placed on the floor of your tatami room. The full shojin ryori structure follows the “rule of five” — five flavors (salty, bitter, sour, sweet, umami), five colors, prepared entirely from seasonal plant ingredients with no meat, fish, animal stock, garlic, onion, leek, or chive (the so-called “five pungent vegetables,” believed to agitate the senses). Koyasan’s signature dish is goma-dofu (sesame tofu — custardy, dense, and richer than any tofu you have encountered before), alongside simmered seasonal vegetables in kombu-shiitake broth, tempura of mountain herbs, and kōya-dōfu: freeze-dried tofu that is a local specialty unique to the mountain. First-timers consistently report that the meal is far better than expected.

Meal etiquette (do not skip this):
– Sit quietly before eating. A monk may perform a brief blessing or you may hear a bell.
– Keep conversation low — silence or quiet talk is the norm; loud laughter disrupts the atmosphere.
– Finish everything on your tray, especially the rice. Leaving food is considered disrespectful of the preparation effort.
– Do not pour additional soy sauce over dishes — seasoning is already calibrated.
– Hold your rice bowl with both hands when it is placed before you.

19:30 onwards — Free evening
After dinner, the mountain quiets completely. This is the best time for the Okunoin night walk if you have not done it already — 2 kilometers of lantern-lit cedar path through Japan’s largest cemetery, passing over 200,000 grave markers, ending at the mausoleum where Kōbō Daishi is believed to remain in eternal meditation. Night tours are available if you prefer a guide. Photography is permitted along the approach path but strictly prohibited beyond Gobyo-bashi Bridge near the inner sanctuary.

21:00–22:00 — Lights out / quiet hours
Most shukubo expect guests to be in their rooms and quiet by around 21:00–22:00. There are no nightclubs to return to from. This is, again, intentional.

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Day 2

06:00 or 07:00 — Morning service (gongyo)
The morning prayer service — gongyo — is the heart of the shukubo experience. At Eko-in, it begins at 7:00 AM in the main hall. At other temples it may start as early as 6:00 AM. Overnight guests are invited to attend; no reservation is needed and there is no fee for guests. Arrive a few minutes early and seat yourself on the floor cushions provided. The head priest, in formal robes, leads the sutra chanting. During the service, a monk may invite you to offer incense to the principal Buddha — accept with a slight bow, hold the incense briefly, and place it in the urn. This is not a performance; the monks are conducting their actual daily religious obligations, and you are simply present. Phones on silent; no flash photography; no pajamas (dress in your yukata or in modest street clothes — the temple provides guidance at check-in).

07:30 — Goma (Homa) fire ritual
At Eko-in, the goma fire ritual follows the morning service at 7:30 AM, held in the Bishamondo Hall (a different building from the main hall — staff will direct you). This is the ceremony that distinguishes the Shingon tradition of Koyasan from any other temple stay in Japan. The chief priest — now in different robes from the morning service — takes position at a ceremonial altar. Ritual implements are arranged: a brass fire pit, stacks of cedar-wood prayer tablets (gomagi) inscribed with petitions, offerings of rice, sake, and fragrant woods. When the fire is lit, it builds from a small flame to one that can rise several meters into the hall. The drumbeat sets the rhythm; the chanting shifts register; the heat reaches the front row. The ritual lasts approximately 30 minutes.

You may purchase gomagi — small cedar tablets — for a fee and inscribe your own wish or the name of an ancestor to be burned in the fire. After the ritual, the priest will invite you to absorb the smoke from a final ritual urn, believed to carry blessings.

08:00 — Shojin ryori breakfast
Breakfast follows the same format as dinner: a tray of small dishes in your room, typically lighter — miso soup, pickled vegetables, rice, tofu, dried seaweed, and goma-dofu if you are lucky. The same etiquette applies.

10:00 — Check-out
Standard check-out is by 10:00 AM. Settle your bill in cash at the temple reception. Tip culture does not exist in Japan; a genuine “arigatou gozaimashita” (thank you very much) to the staff as you leave is the appropriate close.

After check-out: same-day Koyasan sightseeing
You have the rest of the morning and afternoon before your return train. The town is walkable:
– Okunoin Cemetery (if you missed it the night before): 20 min walk from most central shukubo, then 2 km through the cedar and stone path.
– Danjo Garan complex: the great Konpon Daito pagoda, bright vermillion against the forest, a 10-minute walk from central Koyasan.
– Kongobuji Temple: head temple of the Shingon sect, with the largest dry rock garden in Japan (karesansui). Admission fee applies; the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket includes a discount.

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Shojin Ryori: The Vegetarian Cuisine of the Mountain

What it actually is — not what you might assume

Shojin ryori is the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine developed in Japanese monasteries over roughly 800 years. The name translates roughly as “devotion cuisine” or “spiritual diligence cuisine.” The rules are strict: no meat, no fish, no animal stock, no garlic, onion, leek, or chive. Within those constraints, monks have built one of the most technically refined cuisines in Japanese cooking.

A full shukubo dinner at Koyasan typically comprises six to twelve small dishes, arranged with visible care on lacquered trays. Seasonal ingredients vary by month: spring brings bamboo shoots and wild mountain vegetables (sansai); autumn arrives with chestnuts, persimmons, and earthy root vegetables; winter meals lean into warming preparations of root vegetables and preserved items. Koyasan’s signature dish — goma-dofu, sesame tofu — appears at nearly every dinner on the mountain and is unlike anything available at a standard Japanese restaurant.

Vegan guests are well-served by default; the cuisine excludes dairy and eggs as a matter of traditional practice. If you have specific allergies (nuts, gluten, specific soy intolerance), communicate these at booking time. Temples are generally accommodating but cannot adjust last-minute.

The dining experience is part of the practice, not just the meal. Finishing everything on your tray is a mark of gratitude. Quiet conversation is the norm. The meal is not a restaurant dinner; it is closer to a meditative act.

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Etiquette for First-Time Guests: The Complete List

Things no one tells you at the door

First-time shukubo guests consistently make the same small mistakes. None of them are catastrophic — the temples are genuinely accustomed to foreign guests and are gracious about it — but knowing these in advance lets you be present for the experience rather than anxious about doing something wrong.

Before you arrive:
– Book with a meal-inclusive rate. Temples strongly recommend this, and dinner options in Koyasan’s town are limited, do not offer English menus, and cannot accommodate last-minute requests from non-guests. If you have not booked meals in advance, bring your own food.
– Bring enough cash. Calculate your per-person rate × number of people, add a buffer for optional extras (gomagi, ajikan session, sutra copying fee), and carry that in yen. Most temples do not accept cards for the final payment.
– Inform the temple of dietary restrictions at booking. Not at check-in. At booking.

At check-in:
– Remove shoes immediately and completely at the genkan. Do not step onto the tatami in socks you wore outdoors — change into the temple slippers.
– Check-in is typically from 14:00–15:00. If you will arrive later than 17:30, call or email the temple in advance — some temples will cancel or reduce your meal reservation if you have not given notice.

In the room:
– The futon will either be pre-laid or will be set up by staff in the evening. Do not drag it around the room or move the low table setup.
– Bring your own toiletries (some temples provide minimal basics; do not assume).
– In winter or shoulder season, pack a warm layer specifically for sleeping — older temple buildings use space heaters and thick futons, not central heating, and the corridors are unheated.

At ceremonies:
– Arrive before the stated time and seat yourself quietly.
– Wear the temple yukata, or modest street clothes. Pajamas and sleepwear are explicitly not permitted in the ceremony halls.
– Silence your phone before entering. Flash photography is prohibited in all ceremony halls.
– You are not required to participate in any prayer or gesture — simply being present and respectful is sufficient.

At meals:
– Sit cross-legged or kneel on the tatami; do not extend legs toward the food tray.
– Eat in rough order: taste each dish, rotate between them, finish the rice last.
– Do not add soy sauce, seasoning, or condiments unless specifically offered.
– Leaving food — particularly rice — is considered disrespectful.

At the communal bath:
– Wash fully at the seated shower station before entering the tub (this is always required, never optional).
– No swimwear in the bath.
– Quiet is expected; the bath is not a social venue in the way a hotel pool might be.

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How to Combine Your Shukubo Stay With a Wider Koyasan Itinerary

Making the most of 24–36 hours

A single overnight stay gives you the full rhythmic arc of the shukubo experience, but Koyasan rewards a second night for travelers who want to go deeper. Here is how to structure both options:

One-night stay (the standard):
– Arrive by 14:00–15:00 from Osaka. Check in, bathe, attend afternoon meditation if booked.
– Dinner at 17:30 in your room.
– After dinner: Okunoin night walk (highly recommended — the lantern-lit path after dark is extraordinary and the crowds have thinned).
– Morning: 6:00/7:00 AM service + 7:30 goma ritual + 8:00 breakfast.
– After check-out (10:00 AM): Danjo Garan complex + Kongobuji Temple.
– Return train from Gokurakubashi: aim for a 13:00–14:00 departure to reach Osaka by 16:00.

Two-night stay:
Adds a full day for Okunoin in morning light (the mist and birdsong version, completely different from the night), a deeper exploration of the Danjo Garan complex, the Koyasan Reihōkan Museum (excellent collection of Buddhist art; check current hours on the official site before visiting), and the chance to hike sections of the Choishi-michi pilgrimage trail, which descends from the mountain through old cedar forest.

From your shukubo: everything in Koyasan’s compact temple town is walkable or easily reached by town bus. The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket covers all bus rides within the mountain — use it freely.

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Travel Tips

• Book meals as part of your stay. Restaurants in Koyasan are limited, rarely have English menus, and cannot serve walk-in dinner guests. If you have not booked meals with your shukubo, bring food from Osaka.
• The Nankai Railway route is not covered by the JR Pass. Do not rely on your JR Pass for this journey. Buy the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket at Nankai Namba Station or through the Klook or GetYourGuide platforms in advance.
• Arrive early enough in the day. Check-in from 14:00 is standard. If you are not there by 17:30 without prior notice, your dinner may not be available.
• Luggage note: Koyasan has steep hills and stairs. Travel with a bag you can carry, not a hard-shell rolling suitcase. Coin lockers are available at Gokurakubashi Station if needed.
• Cold warning: The mountain runs 5–10°C colder than Osaka. Even in September this matters. In November and beyond, pack a proper winter coat and a sleeping layer — the corridors in older temples are not heated.
• Peak foliage (late Oct–early Nov) means crowds and premium prices. If this is your target window, book 4–6 months in advance and accept that prices will be higher. If you book at the last minute for autumn, you may pay ¥50,000+ for a night.
• The Okunoin night walk is not to be missed. Most guided night tours from shukubo operate on request — ask your temple at check-in. The unguided version is also straightforward and free; the paved path through the cemetery is well-lit by lanterns and clearly signed.
• The morning goma is worth the alarm. Every traveler who has skipped the morning service reports regretting it. Set your alarm the night before.

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Conclusion

A shukubo stay at Koyasan is not difficult to arrange, but it does reward careful planning. The booking process has a clear hierarchy: start at koyasan-shukubo.net, use instant booking if your temple is listed, use the Association’s Booking Request service if it isn’t, and treat the booking deadlines as non-negotiable rather than suggestions. Arrive with cash, no expectations of Wi-Fi, and at least one warm layer more than the forecast calls for.

What you get in return is a stay that does not resemble anything else available in the Kansai region — a structured immersion in Shingon Buddhist daily life that happens to come with the best vegetarian meal you may have eaten in Japan, a fire ceremony that has been performed continuously on this mountain for over a millennium, and a walk through Okunoin at a time of day when the cedar canopy and the lanterns and the silence do the rest of the work for you.

Book far enough in advance, arrive before 17:30, and set your alarm for the morning service. Everything else will follow.

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Sources

• koyasan-shukubo.net/en — Official Koyasan Shukubo Association booking site: confirmed instant booking temples list (Hojo-in, Kodai-in, Fugen-in, Daien-in, Fudo-in, Eko-in), Booking Request service process, payment policy (credit card guarantee; cash at temple), and guest reviews with pricing examples.
• ekoin.jp/en/experience/ — Eko-in Official Website: confirmed morning service time (7:00 AM), Goma fire ritual time (7:30 AM at Bishamondo Hall), check-in/check-out schedule (14:00 / 10:00), dinner time (17:30), free inclusion for overnight guests, and private goma availability.
• tabichat.com/engine/hotels/ekoin — Eko-in Tabichat official listing: confirmed full stay schedule including Ajikan meditation at 16:30, dinner at 17:30, morning service 07:00, goma 07:30, breakfast 08:00, check-out 10:00.
• japan-guide.com/e/e4905.html — Japan Guide, Temple Lodging page: confirmed 50+ temples serving as shukubo, price range ¥10,000–¥40,000 per person including meals, most temples cash only, booking via Booking.com/Agoda/Association.
• japan-guide.com/e/e4904.html — Japan Guide, Osaka to Koyasan access: confirmed Nankai Koya Line fares and times (Limited Express 80 min ¥1,880 e-ticket; Express 100 min ¥930), cable car 5 min ¥500, bus 10 min ¥460.
• japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html — Japan Guide, Koyasan World Heritage Ticket: confirmed post-2026 price increase to ¥3,980–¥4,210, coverage of trains/cable car/buses.
• osaka-escape.com/guides/koyasan-temple-stay/ — Osaka Escape Koyasan temple stay guide: confirmed crowd patterns, price range ¥15,000–¥25,000 standard, morning service ~6:00 AM with optional goma, advance booking requirement.
• japanactivity.com/best-time-to-visit-koyasan — Japan Activity best time guide: confirmed autumn foliage peak late Oct–early Nov, 2–3 months advance booking for weekends, 4–6 months for foliage season.
• japanactivity.com/koyasan-food-shojin-ryori — Japan Activity shojin ryori guide: confirmed meal etiquette (silence, finish tray, no added soy sauce, hold bowl with both hands), book 2–3 months ahead for weekends and 4–6 months for autumn.
• japanstartshere.com/2025/12/19/koyasan-in-autumn/ — Japan Starts Here, Koyasan in autumn 2025/2026: confirmed foliage peak first week of November, last-minute autumn bookings can reach ¥50,000+.
• templestayjapan.com/en/blog/shukubo-first-time-guide — Temple Stay Japan first-time guide: confirmed shojin ryori rules (five pungent vegetables), check-in etiquette, shared bath norms, expected room style.
• visitwakayama.jp/en/events/detail_41.html — Official Visit Wakayama tourism site: confirmed late October to early November autumn foliage season at Koyasan.