Koya-Ryujin Skyline

Japan | 43 km

This scenic road connecting Ryujin Onsen and the sacred Mount Koya is the pre-eminent skyline parkway in the Kii Peninsula. Known as the ‘roof of Kinshu’, it follows a meandering road along a mountain ridgeline where one of the main attractions is seeing the different types of trees contrasted against the amazing mountain landscape in the autumn months. Koya-Ryujin is famous across Japan as a destination to see the spectacular foliage of beech, Mongolian oaks, Japanese maples and sumac trees, at their best in October and November. 

Mount Koya is home to some of Japan’s most sacred landmarks including the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, Kongobuji, and Okunoin with its 200,000 tombstones of prominent monks and feudal lords from Japanese history. Regularly rated as one of the best scenic roads in Japan, it makes for a spectacular motorcycle ride in any season. 

Gomasan Skytower
The vista of the mountains painted with multi-coloured leaves is best seen from the 1372m observation deck of the Skytower, located near the peak of Mount Gomadanzan. 

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Originally published in 2023.

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