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A Journey Through Mount Koya's Sacred Sanctuary

SHIMOKOSAWA, JAPAN - JUNE 13: A cluster of traditional multi-tiered residential houses sits nestled on a terraced hillside overlooking a lush mountain valley in Shimokosawa, Kudoyama-cho, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, on June 13, 2026. This steep valley settlement along the Nankai Koya Line railway corridor serves as the historical gateway and trailhead for the ancient Choishi-michi pilgrimage route up to Mount Koya (Koyasan), preserving traditional Japanese mountainside architecture featuring tiled roofs and terraced foundations. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13881809
Date Taken	13 June 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Artur Widak/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Artur Widak/NurPhoto

Asian Countryside Environment Exploration Forest Greenery Japan Japanese Kii Peninsula Koya Line Koyasan Kudoyama-cho Lifestyle Lush Mount Koya Mountain Nature Scenic Shimokosawa Wakayama Prefecture gateway hillside historical homes houses landscape multi-tiered neighborhood pilgrimage remote residential rural scenery serene settlement slopes stone walls summer terraced tiled roofs traditional architecture travel trees valley village traditional houses terraced hillside mountain valley Nankai Koya Line railway corridor Choishi-michi pilgrimage route Japanese architecture terraced foundations historical gateway trailhead mountainside architecture Artur Widak NurPhoto