Koyashita Station is a station on the Nankai Electric Railway’s Koya Line, located in the mountainous area of Kudoyama Town, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture. At an elevation of approximately 108 meters, the station lies beyond Hashimoto Station as the railway begins to enter the increasingly mountainous landscape leading toward Mount Koya.
Originally opened during the Taisho period, the station’s historic wooden building still retains much of its atmosphere from that era. Today, the station has been transformed into The Railway Hotel Koyasan Pilgrimage Railway, offering the unusual experience of actually staying inside a historic railway station.
This rare combination of railway heritage, traditional scenery, and access to Mount Koya attracts not only railway enthusiasts but also travelers looking for a distinctive way to experience the Koyasan pilgrimage route.
Koyashita Station opened in July 1925. At the time, it was the nearest railway station to Mount Koya and was originally named “Koyasan Station.”
As the railway was subsequently extended farther toward Mount Koya and the transportation network was developed to connect with what are now Gokurakubashi Station and Koyasan Station, the station was renamed “Koyashita Station” in September 1925.
For centuries, pilgrims traveling to Mount Koya passed through this mountainous area on their way to the sacred mountain. As devotion to Koyasan grew, the Shiide area around the station developed as a settlement serving travelers and pilgrims.
The railway later made the journey to Koyasan considerably easier, allowing increasing numbers of people to visit the sacred mountain while connecting this remote mountain region with the wider Kansai area.
The Shiide district, where Koyashita Station is located, has long flourished as a settlement along the pilgrimage routes leading toward Mount Koya.
Even today, the area retains the peaceful atmosphere of a traditional mountain village, surrounded by forests, streams, and historic sites.
To the west of the station stands Shiide Itsukushima Shrine. Every August, the shrine hosts the traditional “Oni no Mai,” or Demon Dance, a ritual designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Wakayama Prefecture.
The performance combines powerful movements with humorous gestures and is offered as a prayer for good harvests, protection from disease, and rain. The tradition has been carefully preserved by local residents and provides an important connection with the cultural history of the Koyashita area.
The area around Koyashita Station is also rich in natural attractions. One of the most notable is Tamagawa Gorge, along the Niu River.
The gorge is known for its clear flowing water, lush forests, and beautiful mountain scenery, and it has been designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Wakayama Prefecture.
During the summer, visitors come to enjoy activities such as camping, playing in the river, and fishing. Families and outdoor enthusiasts can spend time surrounded by the refreshing landscape of the mountains and clear water.
For travelers seeking a slower pace, the combination of forest and river provides a peaceful experience quite different from the urban areas of Wakayama and Osaka.
The Railway Hotel Koyasan Pilgrimage Railway is a unique accommodation facility created within the historic station building of Koyashita Station.
It was previously known as NIPPONIA HOTEL Koyasan Pilgrimage Railway and has since been reimagined as a station hotel that places the railway itself at the heart of the guest experience.
The hotel’s greatest attraction is its extraordinary location: guests can stay inside the station itself. After passing through the ticket gate, the guest rooms are only a few seconds away.
The station building, constructed in 1925, was renovated while preserving its historic character. Original pillars and doors have been retained, while railway components that were actually used in service have been incorporated into the interior design.
The result is a distinctive space where the atmosphere of an early 20th-century Japanese railway station meets the comfort of a modern hotel.
The “Koya” room occupies what was once a station employee’s overnight room.
The spacious 44-square-meter room has two double beds and can accommodate up to four guests. Historic pillars and doors have been preserved, while modern furnishings and amenities create a comfortable space that blends old and new.
One especially fun feature is the Nankai Electric Railway stationmaster’s uniform provided for guests. Visitors can put on the uniform and take commemorative photographs, including pictures with an arriving train in the background.
It is an experience that allows guests to briefly imagine themselves as the stationmaster of this historic mountain railway.
The “Tenku” room was formerly used as a waiting area for railway crew members.
At approximately 17 square meters, it is a compact room designed for two guests, with one double bed.
Although smaller than the Koya room, Tenku retains the atmosphere of the former railway facility, giving guests a sense of what it might have been like for railway staff waiting between duties.
It is particularly suitable for couples or travelers looking for an intimate and unusual accommodation experience.
The appeal of The Railway Hotel Koyasan Pilgrimage Railway goes far beyond simply having a place to sleep. Its defining experience is staying inside a functioning railway station.
The historic station building was carefully renovated while preserving the atmosphere of its 1925 origins. Guests can step directly from the platform into the hotel and spend the night surrounded by traces of the station’s history.
The sounds of station announcements, the arrival of trains, and the quiet atmosphere of the tracks after dark all become part of the travel experience.
For railway enthusiasts, this is a particularly memorable way to experience Japan. At the same time, travelers who simply want to escape the noise of the city can enjoy the peaceful rhythm of a small mountain railway station.
Depending on the room and conditions, guests can look out toward the actual platform and railway tracks.
Watching a train slowly arrive at the station or seeing a Nankai Koya Line train travel through the surrounding mountains offers a unique experience that cannot be replicated in an ordinary hotel.
From late afternoon into the evening, the station lights blend with the quiet mountain landscape, creating an especially atmospheric setting.
The experience is not simply about watching trains. It is about spending time in a place where railway history, mountain scenery, and the journey to Koyasan come together.
Guests staying in the Koya room can also enjoy taking commemorative photographs wearing a Nankai Electric Railway stationmaster’s uniform.
Timing a photograph with the arrival of a train can create a memorable souvenir of the stay, making it feel as though you have temporarily become part of the railway staff.
The hotel interior also incorporates retired railway components and other railway-related objects, allowing guests to discover details of railway history as they move through the building.
Koyashita Station is part of the historic Nankai Koya Line, a railway that developed as an important pilgrimage route connecting the Osaka area with Mount Koya.
Today, the line also serves commuters and local residents, but its origins are closely tied to the movement of pilgrims traveling to Koyasan.
Mount Koya has been an important center of Buddhist faith for centuries. In the past, pilgrims had to travel along difficult mountain paths, but the development of the railway made the journey considerably more convenient and accessible.
The mountainous section between Hashimoto Station and Gokurakubashi Station is particularly distinctive, with steep gradients, sharp curves, tunnels, bridges, and deep valleys.
Beyond Koyashita Station, the railway enters an increasingly rugged landscape. The train follows the valleys of the Kii Mountains, providing passengers with views of forests and steep mountain terrain along the way.
After leaving Koyashita Station, trains gradually climb deeper into the mountains.
The combination of deep valleys, tunnels, bridges, and sharp curves makes this section very different from an urban railway. The journey itself becomes part of the attraction.
Rather than simply being transportation, the railway can be experienced as part of the pilgrimage journey to Mount Koya.
As the train slowly gains elevation and the landscape changes from lowland scenery to dense mountain forests, anticipation builds for the sacred world of Koyasan ahead.
One of the popular attractions in the surrounding area is the Kudoyama Sanada Museum.
The museum introduces the history of Sanada Masayuki and his son Sanada Yukimura, also known as Nobushige, famous warriors of Japan’s Warring States period who spent time in Kudoyama.
Exhibits and audiovisual displays introduce the history of the Sanada family and their connection with the area. The museum is popular not only with history enthusiasts but also with visitors exploring the historic streets of Kudoyama.
Sanada-an Temple is traditionally associated with the place where Sanada Masayuki and his son Yukimura lived after the Battle of Sekigahara.
The temple grounds preserve stories and materials associated with the Sanada family, offering visitors an opportunity to learn more about the turbulent history of Japan’s Warring States period.
Located at the foot of Mount Koya, Jison-in Temple has a particularly close connection with Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and the religious tradition centered on Koyasan.
The temple played an important role as an entrance to the pilgrimage routes leading toward Mount Koya and is one of the component sites of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historic buildings and cultural properties remain within the grounds, making it a peaceful place to experience the religious history of the region.
Travelers interested in nature can explore Ryu-o Gorge and Tamagawa Gorge.
These scenic areas combine clear streams with dense forests and are suitable for walking, nature observation, and enjoying the peaceful mountain environment.
In summer, the rivers become popular for activities such as playing in the water and camping, while the changing seasons provide beautiful scenery throughout the year.
A journey from Koyashita Station to Mount Koya is more than simply a transfer between destinations. It is an opportunity to experience the history, nature, and atmosphere of the Koyasan pilgrimage route.
From Koyashita Station, travelers can board the Nankai Koya Line and travel through the mountainous landscape toward Gokurakubashi Station. From there, the journey continues by the Koyasan Cable Car to Koyasan Station.
As the train and cable car climb higher, the scenery gradually changes from lower mountain areas to dense forests and finally the sacred mountain environment of Koyasan.
This gradual transition makes the journey itself an enjoyable part of visiting one of Japan’s most important Buddhist centers.
For travelers who enjoy hiking, exploring the historic pilgrimage routes around Kudoyama and Koyashita offers another way to experience the journey to Mount Koya.
One particularly famous route is the Choishimichi Pilgrimage Route, which begins in the Kudoyama area and leads toward Koyasan.
The route is marked by traditional stone stupas and follows paths that have been used by pilgrims for centuries. Walking through the forests and mountain villages allows visitors to experience the landscape at a slower pace while imagining the journeys of earlier pilgrims.
Reaching Koyasan after walking through the mountains can be an especially rewarding experience, offering a very different sense of pilgrimage from traveling by train.
The Railway Hotel Koyasan Pilgrimage Railway brings together the history of a railway station, the culture of train travel, the beauty of the surrounding mountains, and the spiritual heritage of Mount Koya.
Staying here is not simply about having accommodation before visiting Koyasan. Guests can listen to the sounds of the railway, watch trains arrive at the platform, explore the historic station building, and experience the atmosphere of a traditional mountain settlement.
For travelers visiting Mount Koya, it can serve as a memorable place to stay before continuing into the sacred mountain region. For railway enthusiasts, it is a destination in its own right.
At Koyashita Station, the journey to Mount Koya becomes part of the destination—a rare opportunity to sleep in a historic railway station and experience the history of Japan’s pilgrimage railway from the inside.