Supposedly the most peaceful place on earth (according to Lonely Planet) this mountain buddist sanctuary houses an amazing set of temples to stay the night, an an impressive buddist graveyard.
The temple we stayed at
A stay at the temple includes an evening meditation prayer session, and a morning chanting prayer session. Each of these was an experience to participate in and observe. Whatever your denomination, 40 minutes of meditation is enough to make your thoughts wander interesting places, and the chanting of the morning session presents well enough to ponder as well. You are also served two meals of the monk's vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori). I'm not sure why this also is anti-garlic, but some of the tofu was good, while other dishes were questionable. We were put in an eating room with the only two other foreigners visiting the temple, likely so we could not interfere with the rest of the Japanese with our lack of understanding for proper table mannerisms.
The main attraction atop Koya-san is Okunoin, a buddist graveyard where Kobo Daishi is enshrined.
I didn't expect to come across a spaceship in Koya-san, but apparently it is dedicated to an aerospace company.
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