Japan

Okunoin Cemetery, Japan

About Okunoin Cemetery

Some of the earliest graves in this cemetery date back to even 1012 AD and are worth checking out. The locals believe that Kukai’s resting place is nothing less than a shrine, so you can find a lot of devotees visiting to pay tributes. What was once a major forest, today only a part of it remains ever since the number of people were buried here. Plan your visit during your Japan trip to experience the historical significance and serene atmosphere of this sacred cemetery.

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Okunoin Cemetery Highlights

• Take a guided tour of the Okunoin Cemetery to know more about the origin and history of the Okunoin Cemetery.
• Check out the Ichinohashi bridge which serves as the entry point to the cemetery and pay respect to Kukai before entering.
• Explore the Gokusho offering hall and learn more about Jizo- a popular Bodhisattva who is considered a guardian of children.
• Visit the Torodo hall which is a prominent place of worship and check out the 100,000 lanterns lit up, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
• Satisfy your burst of adrenaline by taking a night tour and experience the real thrill of visiting a cemetery at night.

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Point of Interest for Okunoin Cemetery

Take a guided tour

One of the go to activities for those visiting Okunoin Cemetery would be to take a guided tour. These tours are led by experts and come with a lot of insights about the Okunoin Cemetery. Take this tour to know more about the origin and the historical significance of the Okunoin Cemetery. When you are taking a tour, make sure you ask a lot of questions to know the place better. When on the tour, make sure you do not disturb the overall sanctity of the place by making a lot of noise.

Check out the monuments

A visit to the Okunoin Cemetery is incomplete without checking out the monuments in the city. Some of the most prominent monuments here include the group monuments that are maintained by Japanese companies like Nissan and Komatsu. There is also a monument dedicated to the lives of insect victims and is maintained by a pesticide company. These are just some of the interesting monuments that are more likely to come across when checking out.

Visit the Ichinohashi Bridge

Alternatively known as the first bridge, this bridge marks the traditional entrance into the Okunoin Cemetery. Tourists here are expected to pay respect to the Kobo Daishi before crossing the bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you will enter the Okunoin Cemetery and you can check out the 200,000 graves spread across two kilometres. Some of the buried people here include monks and feudal lords that are resting here for more than a century.

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