Nyonin-michi

Nyonin-michi

400m

Nyonin-michi
Choishi-michi

200m

Kyo-Osaka-michi
46.8

8.4 8.8 9.8 10.4 11.2 12.4 12.9

Dai-mon-guchi Nyonin-do remains
大門口女人堂跡
984.2ｍ◀P11
Mt. Bentendake
弁天岳

Kuroko-michi
Kumano Kodo
Kohechi

16

Paved
road

Unpavedtrail

Kiyome Fudo-do
清不動堂P23)in

Nyonin-do ~Dai-mon Gate ~Nakanohashi-guchi~73~3.5 ~420 ~480

Dai-mon Gate ~Rokuro-toge Pass ~Nakanohashi-guchi~52~2.5

Nakanohashi-guchi~ Mt. Tenjikusan ~Nyonin-do~9 3.5~4.5 ~590 ~530

Dai-mon Gate
大門
10Kuroko-toge Pass
黒河峠

Kuroko-guchi
Nyonin-do remains
黒河口女人堂跡

Ryujin-guchi
Nyonin-doremains
龍神口女人堂跡

Otasuke Jizostatue
お助け地蔵尊Ainoura-guchi
Nyonin-do remains
相の浦口女人堂跡

14 Otaki-guchi Nyonin-do remains
大滝口女人堂跡

Kongobu-ji
金剛峯寺

Ipponsugi
一本杉

Entsuritsu-ji
円通律寺

Mt. Tenjikusan
転軸山

Godaison-do remains
五大尊堂跡

Okuno-in
奥之院

1004ｍ

◀P

12Mt. Manisan
摩尼山

Benzaiten

The Nyonin-michi 女人道 or Women's Pilgrimage Route is trail thatcircumnavigates the perimeter of Koyasan and was used extensive by
women who were banned from entering the precincts.
This ~16 km route linked the seven entrance gates to Koyasan, of which
many featured women’s halls. These trails were busiest in the Edo period(1603-1868).

Walking Options

Present day the route connects different walking courses and are
popular walking excursions in and around Koyasan.
This trail has many access points, so it is easy to walk smaller sections.
A popular starting point is from Nyonin-do going counter-clockwise
to Dai-mon Gate. From here the trail skirts the south side of town toNakanohashi-guchi entrance to Okuno-in.
The northeast loop over Mt. Manisan, Mt. Yoryusan, and Mt. Tenjikusan
is a more isolated mountain trail. This section is called the Koya Sanzan
Route.

Nyonin-do (Fudozaka-guchi Nyonin-do)

Traditionally women were not allowed to enter into the Koyasan
sanctuary—which was common practice in Japanese monasteries—
to eliminate distractions to spiritual training. In 1872 the new Meiji
government decreed the banning of women terminated but Koyasan
did not follow until 1906.
But women were still drawn to this sacred site to worship, which leadto the creation of womens halls built around the perimeter of Koyasan(mostly near the seven gates) to cater to these female pilgrims. These
served as resting, meeting, and lodging sites.
Only one of the seven women's halls that remain today (currentconstruction is from 1871), is the Fudozaka-guchi Nyonin-do 不動坂
口女人堂. It was built
by request of a female
pilgrim named Kosugi,
who had a very hard
life, and wished that
she could somehow
comfort and support
other women insimilar circumstances.
Venerated as theguardian deity of thetemple, she now isfulfilling her goal foreternity.
Legend53

Rokuro-toge Pass轆轤峠e(Kotsuki-toge Pass粉撞峠915ｍ

Daimon-minami
Chushajo
bus stop
大門南駐車場
バス停~270 ~330

1008.6ｍ

Nyonin-do
女人堂

Danjo Garan
壇上伽藍~160 ~150

Mt. Yoryusan
楊柳山

P19

Tanigami Nyonin-do remains
谷上女人堂跡20

Tot
Ele al
vat
i on

1Tot
Ele alvat
i on

~2

▶

1.8

▶

0.9

ss(m(mPilgrimage Routehr)
Tim

Nyonin-do ~Mt.Bentendake ~Dai-mon Gate

800m600m

LoGa)
kmDistance(1000mkm 0)-doin
Nyont.

D

Nyon

M

Unpaved trail
Paved trail呃in-dBe on
ai ten-mdon ak
Ga eteRokuro-toge
Pass
NakanohM
an ashii
M -to -gu
gcht.
M eP
i
a
Ku ni assro san
M kot. -t
YKo or oge
ts yus P
ua as
Ip ki-t n spo ogenMt. sug Pa
Te i ssnjikus
an

女人道

1200m

Nyonin-michi

Distance (km): ~16Time (hr)
: 6.5~8Total Elevation Gain (m) : ~1010
Total Elevation Loss (m): ~1010

917ｍ

Nakanohashi-guchi
中の橋口

Miroku-toge Pass
弥勒峠
Jizo statue Omine-guchi Nyonin-do remains
地蔵大峰口女人堂跡

Mani-toge Pass
摩尼峠

ToiletPublic Wi-fi

Onsen (Hot spring)

ShrinePublic phone

View point

StationTemple

Convenience store

Covered shelter

Bus stop

Grocery store

Michi-no-Eki
rest area

Parking

000 Choishi

Post Office

Stamp

Police Station

Drinking water

Accommodation

Fire Station

Information

Camping

SchoolShop/Store0

1：2 5 , 0 0 0500ｍ

Vending machine

Other
Unpaved trail
Other
Paved roadOn the section of
the Nyonin-michi
between the Nyonindo and the Daimon Gate is the Mt.
Bentendake peak.
It is believed that
Kukai enticed theBenzaiten 弁才天—
the goddess of water,time, words, music,etc; everything thatflows—to this mountain top to protect the precincts.

Dai-mon Gate

The vermillion Daimon 大門 outer gateis the main westernentrance to Koyasan, amassive 2 tier wooden
structure over 25 mtall.
The three large
wooden signs with thecharacters of Koyasan
高 野 山. Above these
are intricate swirlingwave decorations toward off fire.
Originally it was a torii style gate which was destroyed by fire. The
current structure was built in 1705.
Two muscular Nio Guardian Kings stand tall and fearsome in the sidebays protecting the premises.
Plaques with classical Chinese characters allude to Kukai’s eternal
state of meditation stating: "Kobo Daishi emerges each morning fromhis meditation to watch over Koyasan and offer us salvation."

Nio Guardians

Nio 仁王 are
powerful andmenacing guardians
sometime referred
to as "Benevolent
Kings" often foundin temple gates with
the important dutyof protecting thesanctuary.
Their poses aredramatic andthreatening—glaring
down those thatpass—and are believed to have protected the historical Buddha.
One has mouth open for the “a” sound the other for the “n” soundwhich are the first and last syllables in Japanese and symbolizes
beginning and end—birth and death—creation in its entirety.

15