Koya-Ryujin Skyline — Sacred Mountain RidgeRoad.

Distance

55 km

Duration

1 day

Climb

600 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Koya-Ryujin Skyline — Sacred Mountain Ridge Road.

Route 371 connects the UNESCO-listed temple complex of Koyasan — Shingon Buddhism's sacred mountain founded in 816 AD — to Ryujin Onsen via 43km of ridge road through the Kii Mountains. The road traces the highest ridgeline of the Kii Peninsula above 1,000m, peaking at Gomanzan (1,372m) with panoramic views over the sacred landscape. Ryujin Onsen at the southern terminus is ranked among Japan's top three beauty waters. Open year-round but snow-prone November–March.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance55 km

Days1

Total climb600 m

DifficultyModerate

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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE

4 stops

Koyasan — Okunoin IntersectionStart · Start at Koyasan, headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, founded by Kobo Daishi in 816 AD. The Okunoin cemetery (200,000 graves under ancient cedars) and Kongobuji Temple are worth arriving the night before. Route 371 heads south from the Okunoin Intersection into the Kii Mountains.

Route 371 High Ridge ViewpointScenic Point · The skyline road crests the ridge above 1,000m with views across forested Kii ridgelines. The air is cool even in summer. This is a working logging region — be alert to timber trucks on the narrower sections of the road.

Gomanzan Michi-no-Eki — 1,372m SummitMountain Pass · The Gomanzan road station sits at the highest point of the Kii Mountains. The 33m observation tower gives a 360-degree panorama — the highest peak in Wakayama Prefecture. Basic food and drinks available at the station. This marks the halfway point between Koyasan and Ryujin Onsen.

Ryujin OnsenEnd · The mountain village of Ryujin Onsen sits at the road's end in the Hidaka River valley. The bicarbonate-rich waters are ranked among Japan's top three bijin-no-yu (beauty waters) and were favoured by Tokugawa shoguns. A post-ride soak at the Motoyu public bathhouse is highly recommended before the 90-minute drive to Shingu or Tanabe.

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