Okunoin is a cemetery and sacred area that extends about 2km from the Ichinohashi bridge to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum.
The path is lined on both sides by hundreds of centuries-old towering cedar
trees.
Among the trees are over 200,000 gravestones and memorial pagodas for people
ranging from important figures to commoners.
In the prayer for the Manto-Mange-e ceremony in 832, Kobo Daishi wrote, "When the universe, all living beings, and nirvana are exhausted, my prayers will also be exhausted."
In other words, he made a great vow:
"As long as all living beings in the universe try to attain enlightenment, as long
as they try to become Buddas, as long as people keep seeking nirvana, I
will not finish my prayers.
There is writen stone sign of his vow on the left side of the path.
Every year on August 13th, Candle Festival (Rosoku Matsuri) is held on
the path.
100,000 candles are lit along the path in the precincts of Okunoin from
the Ichinohashi bridge to the Torodo (Lantern Hall).
From 8:00pm, a Buddhist memorial ceremony is held at the Torodo.
The best way to approach Okunoin is to take the bus from Koyasan station
to Ichinohashimaebus stop.
