How to get to Koyasan

Koyasan is most easily accessed from Osaka. The route isn’t covered by the JR Pass, so it’s recommended to use a regional pass such as the Kansai Railway Pass or the Koyasan Heritage ticket.

Osaka → Koyasan:

1. From Osaka Namba or Shin-Imamiya Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Terminal Station. Direct Limited Express trains come every 1-3 hours for the cost of 1720 yen and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Express/Rapid Express trains require transferring at Hashimoto Station, but run more frequently (every 20-30 minutes) costing 930 yen. The journey is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
2. From Gokurakubashi, take the cable car to Koyasan. It costs 500 yen and takes 5 minutes.  
3. From the top station, it's a 10 minute bus ride into the town center costing 300 yen to Senjuinbashi Bus stop. 

Nara → Koyasan:

1. From Nara Station, take the Kintetsu Nara Line to Namba Station. This is 40 minutes by Rapid Express train and costs 680 yen. Alternatively, you can take the JR Yamatoji Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. This takes 35 minutes and costs 580 yen. 
2. From Osaka Namba or Shin-Imamiya Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Terminal Station. Direct Limited Express trains come every 1-3 hours for the cost of 1720 yen and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Express/Rapid Express trains require transferring at Hashimoto Station but run more frequently (every 20-30 minutes) costing 930 yen. The journey is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
3. From Gokurakubashi take the cable car to Koyasan. It costs 500 yen and takes 5 minutes.  
4. From the top station, it is a 10 minute bus ride into the town center costing 300 yen to Senjuinbashi Bus stop. 

Kyoto → Koyasan:

From Kyoto Station via JR:

1. Take the JR Special Rapid service from Kyoto Station to Osaka Station. This takes 30 minutes and runs every 10-15 minutes. 
2. Change to the JR Osaka Loop Line (inner loop) and get to Shin-Imamiya Station. 
3. From Shin-Imamiya Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Terminal Station. Direct Limited Express trains come every 1-3 hours for the cost of 1720 yen and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Express/Rapid Express trains require transferring at Hashimoto Station but run more frequently (every 20-30 minutes) costing 930 yen. The journey is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
4. From Gokurakubashi take the cable car to Koyasan. It costs 500 yen and takes 5 minutes.  
5. From the top station, it is a 10 minute bus ride into the town center costing 300 yen to Senjuinbashi Bus stop. 

From Central Kyoto via Hankyu Railway:

1. From Central Kyoto take the Hankyu Kyoto Line and Sakaisuji Subway Line to Tengachaya Station. This takes 1 hour, costs 700 yen and usually it requires a single transfer along the way typically at Awaji, Ibarakishi or Takatsuki Station.
2. From Tengachaya Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Terminal Station. Direct Limited Express trains come every 1-3 hours for the cost of 1720 yen and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Express/Rapid Express trains require transferring at Hashimoto Station but run more frequently (every 20-30 minutes) costing 930 yen. The journey is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
3. From Gokurakubashi take the cable car to Koyasan. It costs 500 yen and takes 5 minutes.  
4. From the top station, it is a 10 minute bus ride into the town center costing 300 yen to Senjuinbashi Bus stop. 

From Eastern Kyoto via Keihan Railway:

1. From Eastern Kyoto, such as around Sanho or Gion-Shijo Station, take the Keihan Main Line to Kitahama Station. This takes 50 mins, costs 430 yen and runs every 10-20 mins. 
2. Change to the Sakaisuji Subway Line and travel to Tengachaya Station. This is a short 10 minute journey and only costs 240 yen. 
3. From Tengachaya Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Terminal Station. Direct Limited Express trains come every 1-3 hours for the cost of 1720 yen and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. Express/Rapid Express trains require transferring at Hashimoto Station but run more frequently (every 20-30 minutes) costing 930 yen. The journey is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
4. From Gokurakubashi take the cable car to Koyasan. It costs 500 yen and takes 5 minutes.  
5. From the top station, it is a 10 minute bus ride into the town center costing 300 yen to Senjuinbashi Bus stop.