Private Tour
Mt. Koya Sacred 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Our government-licensed and experienced multilingual guides will help you efficiently enjoy a one-day tour of UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, Mt. Koya. Go on a full-day guided walking tour of Mt. Koya and learn about the modern and traditional aspects of one of the world’s most sacred mountains!
If you would like to take some time out to enjoy some sights outside the big city, then this tour of Mount Koya is for you! Meet your guide at Koyasan station, your private guide will customize your full-day tour in detail according to your interests.
Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note*2: National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Meet up with guide on foot at Koyasan Station
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from 'What to expect' list
Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Private transportation
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
What To Expect
Koyasan Okunoin
Important Notice : The access to the Okunoin Torodo (Lantern Hall) will be suspended due to the restoration work from November 18th 2024 to End of August 2025. The heart of Mt. Koya. Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan, rests here. Also, many prominent personalities' graves line by the approach to Okunoin for several hundred meters through the forest. Your guide will explain interesting stories about those historical characters.
Kongobu-ji Temple
The main headquarters for the Shingon Sect, which has 4,000 temples throughout Japan and more than 10 million followers worldwide. Visitors can see religious artifact, fusuma sliding door paintings, as well as a beautiful rock garden representing two dragons flying amongst the clouds.
Options
Mt. Koya Sacred 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Reviews
27 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Our guide Miyuki was very...
Sheela J,
Jun 26, 2025
- Viator
5.00Our guide Miyuki was very friendly and knowledgable. We had a wonderful time. Even though it was raining we were able to cover all the attractions.
Bad guide with poor English
Rosalie K,
Jun 26, 2025
- Viator
1.00The sights were beautiful but the guide was unfortunately way way below par. Surprise how someone like him even has earned a guide licence, that is if he is licensed. He arrived without introducing himself, had problems looking at us, his English was poor, he would just talk to 1 person without gathering everyone together to explain, and that is if he does explain. When we asked questions, he answered a few 'I don't know' and he said that the bell tower was 'maybe not in use' but a google search showed that it is still rung a few times a day! It is evident that Hiro-san had problems with public speaking and struggled to look at us or articulate or explain clearly. From the main area, we were hesitant to tell him that we'll be able to manage without him but he led the way to Kongobuji where he was again unable to explain the place well, so we told him we will be fine to walk around Koyoasan on our own. Absolutely disappointing and how does someone like him qualify to even guide tourists?
Koyasan Day Tour (4 hours)
Erik D,
May 18, 2025
- Viator
5.00Well organized and very knowledgeable guide. Made our tour of Koyasan a fantastic experience. Perfect.
Yuki was our guide for...
Laura M,
Apr 9, 2025
- Viator
4.00Yuki was our guide for this tour. Although we had originally purchased the Mt Koya tour, both Yuki and JPA did not think that was feasible due to our arrival by cruise ship. We changed our tour to Wakayama city and castle. Unfortunately we weren’t able to do much of the castle part because of uneven surfaces. We decided to do a tea service in the gardens instead. We asked to go to a ramen restaurant for lunch and she found a lovely place. There really isn’t much to see in Wakayama other than the castle and honestly you could easily do it on your own. We ended the trip a bit early because there really wasn’t much to see or do.
Mt. Koya Sacred 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Olga K,
Nov 4, 2024
- Viator
1.00Our guide was a very nice local person, but his English (and that was supposed to be a tour in English) was extremely (and I mean extremely) poor. We did not get any useful information during the 4h that he was with us. Very frustrating, and a waste of money.
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Operated by Japan Guide Agency