Hiking the Koyasan Choishi Michi trail

Hiked January 17, 2023

Some tips if you're planning to take this trail:

Check weather conditions before setting the date of your hike. It rained the day before I went hiking so it was slippery and muddy in various parts of the trail. In the video it looked like I was walking mostly on level ground, but it has numerous steep parts too, and just areas where you need to step on stone to move ahead.
BRING A BEAR BELL OR A RADIO
Also, trekking poles can make the hike easier. I wish I had bought a pair beforehand.
If you want to do the full hike, get off at Kudoyama station. There are other starting points to cut the hike short, just Google them.
START THE HIKE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. You want to account for the time it takes to get to Jison-in Temple from Kudoyama station. Also the time spent taking breaks and capturing footage/pictures. You don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere as the sun sets. It is terrifying.
Be properly geared. I am a young, foolish person who wore running shoes on this hike thinking that I'd be okay, but I tripped and slipped multiple times lmao.
It would be better if you could learn reading numbers in Japanese Kanji as the stone markers are engraved with them. That way, you wouldn't be guessing how many markers you have left before you reach the end.