Koya-san - Japan

On one of the world's most sacred mountain ranges (Kii) Koya-san is a beautiful site for pilgrimage, meditation, and experiencing the glory of mother nature. The sacred site 'is a must-hit site for spiritual Japanese'. Let us begin at one of the main spiritual features of Koya-san, the mass cemetery.

(http://evacomics.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/wakayama-trip-koyasan.html
Koya-san has a stunning mix of nature and ruins)

Okunoin mausoleum is one of the main features in Koya-san. Okunoin is the largest graveyard in all of Japan. At Okunoin, each statue (as shown below) has a 'redbib to keep them warm from the cold mountain weather. It seems that afterdeath, families would set-up these small monks or statues to represent the deceased to collect offerings and prayers'. The quietness and sacredness make the trip a journey into the spiritual and unknown world. Channelling the dead occurs at Koya-san.

 (http://evacomics.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/wakayama-trip-koyasan.html)

Although it can be argued that Koya-san is a Buddhist site (with temples, monks, meditation practices), it is certainly at the more esoteric end of Buddhism, and many spiritualists visit. The site is so aesthetically pleasing and sacred that you will free your mind when visiting, just don't get lost because many of the monks have taken binding vows of silence!

(http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/15/travel/koyasan-japan/)

Koya-san is home to 117 temples. Explore the spiritual side of Buddhism and even spend the night at a temple, like many keen spiritual travellers do. While a stay at a 'Buddhist temple lacks many of the conveniences you would find at a modern hotel, it is the experience of a temple stay on this spiritual mountain that makes it worthwhile'. UNESCO named the mountain range a World Heritage Site in 2014. So if you've decided to choose Koya-san to find yourself, take a cable car up to the spiritual heavens, and lose yourself in its beauty.

(https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kansai/koyasan/kanko/1079/)