Walk in the footsteps of pilgrims to the temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage Route, a 745-mile long trail associated with the 9th century Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Clustered in the picturesque countryside around Mount Koya, the temples offer a serene way to spend the day. For centuries, the faithful have followed the pilgrimage route to the 1,000-year-old Okunoin Temple. Nestled in a beautiful and peaceful forest surrounded by Japan's largest cemetery, the temple is home to Kobo Daishi's mausoleum. The next site you'll visit is the Kongobuji Temple. Originally built in 1593, it contains many beautiful painted sliding doors and extravagant receiving rooms. Your last sacred site is the Danjo Garan Temple. It was here in 819 that Daishi established a school of the Shingon sect. There are nearly 20 structures clustered around the striking main pagoda, which serves as the symbol of Mount Koya.