Luxury Train to Link Osaka with Mount Kōya This April

A new tourist train will begin running between Osaka and Mount Kōya this spring, offering a more refined way to reach one of Japan’s most significant religious sites. Operated by Nankai Electric Railway Co., the service, named GRAN Tenku, connects Namba Station in Osaka with Gokurakubashi Station at the foot of the mountain. Launch is scheduled for 24 April 2026, with bookings opening on 24 March.

There will be two return services each day:

• Departures from Namba are set for 9:00 and 12:45, with return journeys leaving Gokurakubashi at 10:46 and 14:58.
• Stops include Shin-Imamiya, Tengachaya, Sakaihigashi, Kongō, Kawachinagano, Rinkanden-entoshi, Hashimoto and Kudoyama.
• One-way fares start at €9.30.

The journey takes around 90 minutes and includes wide windows designed for panoramic views. On board, passengers can order seasonal breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea sets. After arriving at Gokurakubashi, travellers continue by cable car to reach Mount Kōya itself, located within the Kii mountain range.

Mount Kōya highlights:

• Part of the UNESCO-listed sacred sites in the Kii mountains

• Centre of Shingon Buddhism, introduced by Kobo Daishi in the 9th century
• Okunoin Temple and Japan’s largest cemetery, with over 200,000 graves
• Pilgrimage routes such as the Fudozaka Trail
• Temple lodging offering shukubo stays and vegetarian shojin ryori

The new train adds a slower, more deliberate option to a rail network better known for speed. With direct access to a UNESCO-listed spiritual centre, it brings Osaka closer to mountain temples, forest paths and traditional lodging experiences. For visitors weighing city life against quiet pilgrimage routes, GRAN Tenku offers a straightforward way to combine both in a single day or overnight trip.