"Two Days of Peace" a Koyasan Travel Page by miketrudeau

We were able to squeeze two days in Koyasan into our all-too-brief eight days in Japan, and it was well worth it. If you are in the area and tire of the big-city bustle of Osaka and the touristic hubbub of Kyoto, just get on a train and head to Koyasan. It's about an hour and a half's train ride from Osaka station, followed by a short cable-car ride and finally a bus ride into town. It's surprisingly inexpensive to get there, as the cable car ticket is usually included with the train ticket price.

Koyasan's sights are not especially varied, and as such aren't suited to days of checklist-tourism (if you know what I mean). The main idea here, as I see it, is to simply spend time exploring and soaking up the harmonious vibes. Places like this are good for the soul.
Rent a bike and take it around for the day, looking at the temples and watching the people. Make sure to visit Okuno-In, the buddhist graveyard. Make sure to bring a book or journal (or iPod), because all the shops and restaurants close just after seven o'clock and things quiet down quickly.