Out of the city, up to the mountains

Our nature/trekking part of our vacation has started. We left a rainy Kyoto and headed south towards Osaka. Took 5 trains, a cable car and a bus to our Ryokan, a Buddhist monastery in Koyasan (Mt. Koya). 

The monastery was one our favorite places in Japan, so quiet, comfortable and some of the best sleeping and meals of our trip (maybe our life)... 

The hot springs onsen in the ryokan.

The rain was still falling but we decided to  head to the famous cemetery, Okunoin. This was a great decision, we were basically alone, the mist had settled in and we had a magical, mysterious walk up to the masoleum of the famous monk, Kūkai who started the Kōyasan Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism in 819. 

Our lovely breakfast and morning in Koyasan.