Okunoin cemetery: day or night tour?

Hi everyone!

I'm writing to ask you for advice about Okunoiin Cemetery.

In November I will go for two days and one night to Mount Koya, I have already booked a room in a Monasterie and I want to go and visit the Okunoin cemetery.

I'm undecided whether to visit it at night or visit it during the day.
I wanted to ask you for advice on what to do?
Is it better to visit during the day with light?
Or is it better at night with a guide? Or night alone?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I recommend to make a proper visit by day. And possibly add a night visit, if that interests you. Okunoin is one of Japan's most sacred places, and night visits are a phenomena introduced by foreigners over the past decades. Fortunately, they have turned into properly organized tours that are now offered by many of the temples. I personally was shocked a few years ago to see individual tourists behave with an utter lack of respect for the place during the night, obviously only interested in the cemetery-related thrill.

We visted Koyasan last year in spring and did a guided night tour organised by the temple and took some time the next day to explore the cemetery by day on our own. We enjoyed that version very much. The night tour is definitely a unique experience and the monk that guided the tour had some very interesting stories.
2 remarks: We booked the night tour 1 or 2 days in advance online but I think you can also reserve a spot upon arrival.
Very important: Check your temple's dinner times! I remember that some of the temples have dinner times that overlap with the night tour so you wouldn't be able to join.

i would do both. It is a very different experience.

I would also do both, if interested. Just be sure to check with the place you're staying at, since some have a night curfew. At least if you go in November it will get darker much earlier.
https://youtu.be/uquvCbWANBo

Something which was nice was to complete the night tour first and then visiting by your own the next day.