If you’re planning to visit Koyasan, you may want to look into getting the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket to save some money. Below, I’ll share everything you need to know – as well as when/if it’s worth it!
Koyasan, a town in Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the most sacred places in Japan. With over 1,200 years of history, Koyasan is the centre of Shingon Buddism and home to Japan’s largest cemetery. The town’s founder, Kobo Daisha, remains in eternal meditation in his mausoleum here.
Today, Koyasan is still home to over 100 active temples. Around half of them offer Shukubo – an overnight temple stay for travellers and pilgrims. It’s one of the best things you can do in Koyasan!
When I visited Koyasan, I used the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket to save money and make the trip much easier. If Mount Koya is on your itinerary, I recommend looking into the ticket too!
Below, I’ll share everything you need to know about the ticket, when it’s worth it and when it’s NOT worth it. Let’s take a look.
What is the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket?
The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is a discount pass created by Nankai Railway to help travellers get to and around Koyasan. The ticket includes a return ticket from Osaka to Koyasan, including the cable car you’ll need to ride to get up Mount Koya, unlimited bus journeys in Koyasan and discounts on some tourist attractions and souvenir shops.
As the ticket is valid for two days, it’s perfect if you’re doing a temple stay in Koyasan. But even if you’re visiting for a day trip, it can still be a great money saver.
The digital version of the ticket normally costs ¥3,140. The cost of a regular return ticket from Osaka to Koyasan is already more than that. Even before you’ve used any busses and/or get extra discounts to tourist attractions, you’ll already have saved money.
And, of course, there is also the ease-of-use factor. Instead of paying for busses separately in Koyasan, you can flash the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket and not worry about buying individual tickets.
What’s included in the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket?
The Koyasan World Heritage pass is valid for two days and includes the following:
- Return ticket* from Namba or Shin-Imamiya Station (including the cable car that takes you up Mount Koya)
- Unlimited usage of the busses in Koyasan for a two-day period
- Discounts on certain tourist attractions and souvenir shops.
* You have to buy a separate Limited Express Ticket if you want to ride on the Limited Express Koya. It will cost ¥790 each way and you can purchase the upgrade at the station. I personally don’t think it’s worth it as the regular journey only takes 90 minutes and has beautiful views of the mountains.
How to get to Koyasan with the World Heritage Ticket
As you get a return ticket included in the World Heritage Ticket, here is how you can get to Koyasan from Osaka:
- Use the Nankai Koya Line to get from Osaka (Namba or Shin-Imamiya Station) to Gokurakubashi Station
- From Gokurakubashi Station, you can get on the cable car that will take you up the mountain to Koyasan Station.
If you’re travelling from other cities, like Kyoto, you have to make your way to Osaka first. This is not included in the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
Koyasan World Heritage Ticket Prices 2024
The regular price of the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is ￥3,140. This is the price if you depart from Namba or Shin-Imamya Station. If you’re departing from a different station, prices may differ. You can find the full list here.
Children aged 6 – 11 can get 50% off their tickets.
Check the Nankai Railway website for any special sales or discounts on the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket. We visited Koyasan in February and got the tickets during a special Winter Sale for only ¥2,820 from Namba Station.
Where to Buy the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket
The cheapest and easiest way to buy the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is online. Simply follow the steps on the website to purchase your ticket, and you’ll get them in the online “Ticket Wallet”.
Once you’ve purchased your digital ticket, you can access them in your “Ticket Wallet” when you need to scan them. You can scan the ticket at the train station gates and the front of the buses in Koyasan when getting off.
Is the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket worth it?
Yes, the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is 100% worth the money. If you were to buy a regular return ticket from Osaka to Koyasan, you’d be spending more money – making this ticket a great money saver.
On top of that, the unlimited free busses that are included in the pass allow you to save even more money. Plus, it’s super easy to explore Koyasan with access to busses whenever necessary.
Unless you are staying in Koyasan for more than one night (the ticket is only valid for two consecutive days) or you’re planning on using another pass (like the Kansai Thru Pass), the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is the best pass to get.
Is the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket worth it for a day trip?
While taking part in a temple stay in Koyasan is one of the best things you can do when visiting, it’s not always possible depending on your itinerary. But even if you’re taking a day trip to Koyasan, this ticket will still save you money!
As a regular return ticket from Osaka to Koyasan costs more than the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket, you will automatically be saving money. On top of that, you will save even more money in Koya, as you can use the ticket to get on any of the buses for free too.
The Heritage Ticket also comes with additional discounts that you can use during your time in Koyasan, including:
- 20% discount on admission fees at Kon-do
- 20% off admission fees at Konpon Daito
- 10% discount on souvenirs from Juzuya Shirobe
- 10% discount on souvenirs and food at Koyachaya Wakyu
- 10% discount on souvenirs at Nakamotomeigyo
- ¥200 discount on admission fees at Reihokan Museum.
When is the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket NOT worth it?
The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket can be a great money saver if you’re planning to visit Koyasan, but there are a few exceptions:
- You’re staying in Koyasan for more than two days – As the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is only valid for two consecutive days, it’s not a good idea to buy it if you’re planning on staying in Koyasan for more than one night.
- You are using the Kansai Thru Pass – If you’re planning to use the Kansai Thru Pass instead, you won’t need to also buy the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket
The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket – Conclusion
For most people visiting Koyasan, the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket is 100% worth purchasing. Not only does it save you a lot of money, but it also makes travelling to and around Mount Koya much easier.
Staying overnight at a temple in Koyasan is one of the most unique things I’ve done in Japan and something I’d highly recommend!