Mt. Koya (Koyasan) Autumn Leaves 2026
Last updated: July 28, 2026. Typical viewing times and details below are compiled from official park, temple, city and tourism-association websites (linked at the end of this page). The dates of annual night light-ups are set each year — check the official site before you travel.
As a high mountain temple town, Koyasan colours early, with maples and mixed broadleaf trees turning across Okunoin and the grounds of its many temples for a distinctive sacred-mountain autumn scene.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Late October to early November (one of the earliest peaks in Wakayama) |
|---|---|
| Best months | October–November |
| Location | Koya, Wakayama |
| Nearest station | Koyasan Station (Nankai cable car), then Nankai Rinkan bus |
| Admission | The town, Okunoin approach and outer temple grounds are free to walk; individual temple halls and some inner precincts charge separate admission. |
| Night light-up | Evenings after sunset during the foliage season until the leaves finish (exact 2026 dates set each year — confirm on the official site) |
| Official site | https://www.wakayama-kanko.or.jp/events/detail_3936.html |
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Highlights
- Autumn colour among the cedars and monuments of Okunoin, Japan's largest cemetery
- The temple precincts of the Danjo Garan and Kongobuji complex framed in red maples
- Evening light-ups near the Kongobuji main gate and along the Jabara-michi path
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Okunoin (Free)
The sacred forested approach to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum, where maples colour among towering cedars and memorial monuments.
From Nankai Koyasan Station take a Nankai Rinkan bus about 15 minutes to Okunoin-mae; the entrance is right there.
Danjo Garan and Kongobuji (Free)
Koyasan's central temple complex, with the Konpon Daito pagoda and the connecting Jabara-michi path lit up in the evening during the foliage season.
In the central temple town, reachable by Nankai Rinkan bus from Koyasan Station or on foot within the town.
Getting There
Take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi, ride the Nankai cable car up to Koyasan Station, then transfer to a Nankai Rinkan bus into the temple town; Okunoin-mae is about a 15-minute bus ride from the station.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- Koyasan peaks earlier than most Kansai spots, from late October, so plan ahead of the mid-November crowds elsewhere.
- Cars and buses into the temple town fill up in season; using the Nankai train-and-cable-car route with local buses is the smoothest way in.
Autumn Illumination
Evenings after sunset during the foliage season until the leaves finish The exact 2026 dates are announced each year, so confirm them on the official site before planning an evening visit.
About Mt. Koya (Koyasan)
Koyasan is the sacred Buddhist mountain established by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in the 9th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site; its high elevation makes it one of Wakayama's earliest places to see autumn colour.
See more autumn-leaf spots: Kansai Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026