A new way to reach the base of the UNESCO-listed area has been revealed.
The country widely regarded as one of – if not the – best in the world for train transport, has once again unveiled plans to improve its offerings. From April this year, the Gran Tenku train is set to take visitors from buzzy Osaka to the base of the sacred Mount Kōya area, offering a luxury experience to one of the most sacred areas of Japan.
The latest project from Nankai Electric Railway will be a premium sightseeing experience, taking 90 minutes between Osaka’s Namba Station and Gokurakubashi Station.
What to expect on the Gran Tenku journey
Buzzy Osaka is famous for its street food and casual dining. (Image: Getty/ Mlenny)
Travellers will experience the unique transition from the urban energy of Osaka to the mountainous tranquillity of Mount Kōya, passing through dense residential neighbourhoods, 24 tunnels, Kii River, traditional villages and cedar-filled forests.
The four-carriage locomotive is swathed in dark red with gold ornamentation and seats just 70 guests. Each of the luxurious carriages (the interiors of which are yet to be revealed) will offer something different, from reclined seats positioned to maximise the views through large windows to a lobby lounge area that will offer seasonal light snacks and coffee for guests to purchase.
Upon arrival at the base of the mountain, passengers can then transfer to the Nankai Cable Line funicular for the final ascent to Mount Kōya.
Where is Mount Kōya?
Mount Kōya was founded in 816 by the monk Kobo Daishi. (Image: Getty/Imre Cikajlo)
Mount Kōya (Koyasan) is a sacred mountain town located in the Wakayama Prefecture of Japan, south of Osaka and east of Nara. Famed as the 1,200-year-old headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, the 800-metre-high mountain is home to over 100 Buddhist temples and ancient forests. Visitors can stay in overnight temple lodgings (shukubo) – such as Rengejoin Temple and Ekoin Temple – and enjoy vegetarian dishes prepared by monks and morning prayers. A visit to Japan’s largest cemetery, Okunoin, is a must.
When will the train start operating?
The Gran Tenku will begin operation from April 24, 2026, with bookings opening March 24.
Details
The most beautiful time to visit the town is in autumn. (Image: Getty/Rui T Guedes)
Journey: Osaka’s Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station. Note that guests will need to purchase a separate ticket for the Nankai Cable Line funicular.
Service launch date: 24 April, 2026
Ticket pricing: Available from 25 March, 2026
Length of journey: 90 minutes/20 kilometres
Capacity: 70 people
Frequency: Tworound-trips daily (except Wednesdays and certain Thursdays). Namba Station: 9am and 12:45pm. Gokurakubashi: 10:46am and 2:58pm.
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Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist, editor and hotel addict based in the UK. She was formerly International Traveller's Evergreen Editor and was responsible for the foundational content ahead of its website relaunch, as well as managing and growing the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to creating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. Next on her travel wish list is Malta.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
