Four Lunch Stops Around Koyasan and Kudoyama Between Temple Visits

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The Sacred Mountain and Its Gateway

Koyasan is a sacred monastery complex more than 800 meters above sea level and the spiritual center of Shingon Buddhism. Founded over 1,200 years ago by the monk Kūkai (Kobo Daishi), it has flourished as an active monastic center and remains one of Japan’s most sacred sites. In 2004, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

One gateway to Koyasan is the town of Kudoyama in Wakayama Prefecture, the traditional starting point of the pilgrimage route. According to local tradition, Kūkai descended from Koyasan to visit his mother here nine times a month when women were not permitted on the mountain—giving Kudoyama its name, “Nine-Times Mountain.”

With its well-preserved streets and enduring traditions, Kudoyama offers visitors a glimpse of old Japan at the gateway to Koyasan. Whether in Kudoyama or around Koyasan, these spots offer a welcome pause along the journey to the sacred mountain.

Gratin Cafe

Head to this gratin specialty café in Kudoyama for rich, oven-baked dishes made with carefully selected ingredients. With nothing but gratin on the menu, it’s a distinctive stop when you want something warm and satisfying during your sightseeing. Set beyond a bamboo grove, the underground entrance adds a playful touch to the approach. Visit during a quieter time for a relaxed break, or stop by at lunch when the café comes alive.

*Due to road-widening construction, the restaurant is located at the address below at the moment. Please check the official website for the latest information before visiting.
34-5 Shinden, Katsuragi Town, Ito County, Wakayama

Kadohama Gomatofu Daimon Gate

Stop by this long-established Japanese restaurant, a four-minute walk from Daimon Gate, the main entrance to Koyasan, for traditional goma dofu (sesame-flavored tofu) and shojin ryori, a vegetarian Buddhist cuisine prepared entirely from vegetables and edible wild plants. Opened in 1927, the restaurant is known for supplying its goma tofu to local temples. Kaiseki meals are also available, and in winter the menu includes a soy milk hot pot.

A spacious Japanese-style dining room and terrace seating in milder weather create a relaxed setting, while a small souvenir corner offers goma-dofu and goma-dofu baumkuchen to take home.

Sabo Miyazaki

Head to this Japanese café located near Koyasan for a relaxing lunch break in a welcoming setting, where traditional Japanese decorative items and maneki-neko (lucky cat) figurines add character throughout the space.

The daily lunch menu changes regularly, with mains such as fried chicken, ginger pork, and stewed hamburger steak. Japanese sweets and limited-time drinks make it easy to linger a little longer.

Temple Cafe Seikeiin

This temple café in Koyasan serves shojin ryori, the traditional plant-based cuisine of Buddhist temples, using fresh ingredients sourced locally in Wakayama Prefecture. Set in a temple building renovated into a café, it offers a garden-facing setting for lunch or dessert, with views that change with the seasons. A nearby bus stop also makes it easy to include in a walk along the approach to Koyasan.

A Pause Between Temples

In the Koyasan–Kudoyama area, lunch can be more than just a break between temple visits. These four cafés combine local ingredients with memorable settings, making lunch part of the day’s experience. Use this list to plan your route, and let each stop add another layer to the journey.

*Details are current as of March 2026; check official restaurant websites for updates.