Okunoin Cemetery

One the most famous things about Koyasan is Okunoin cemetery. This is the largest cemetery in Japan and historically the most prestigious. Kobo Daishi supposedly went into ‘eternal meditation’ in a cave at the far end of this cemetery 1200 years ago. This is the site of his current mausoleum where some believe he is still alive meditating. Since the time of Kobo Daishi, anyone who is anyone has had a tomb here. I learned recently that it is not uncommon for prominent people or families to have more than one tomb in Japan. For example, they might have one in their home village and one at Koyasan. I am not sure if there are actual remains in each tomb but most likely there are.

This cemetery has half a million family tombs. The tombs are nestled among a thick forest of centuries old cedar trees. The trees were so crazy that you would almost swear some of them had to have been made by Disney!

In Japan, it is up to the family to take care of their ancestor’s tombs. Hundreds and hundreds of the tombs in Okunoin have been forgotten and neglected over the centuries. They are falling down, thick with moss and some have been almost completely engulfed inside the giant trees.



In addition to tombs of Japan’s most famous historical figures (Kobo Daishi, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa shoguns) there are also family tombs of current famous names such as Nissan and Komatsu (see my pictures on Flickr).


I felt transported to another world walking through such history. You could feel it in the air. I have never seen anything like this cemetery and probably never will. Well worth the time to visit if you ever come to Japan!