Danjo Garan

Kongobu-ji on Koyasan is the head temple of Shingon Sect, spreading on the mountain top at 900m-high. When Reverend Kobo opened Koyasan, the first place he worked on was Danjo Garan. Garan means “a quiet place monks gather and train.” Along with “Okunoin” where Reverend Kobo rests in peace, this Danjo Garan is one of the two central places of faith at Koyasan.

In 2015, commemorating Koyasan’s 1200th anniversary, the middle gate was reconstructed. Beyond the gate, the “Golden Hall” stands which is the main hall of the entire Koyasan and Yakushi Nyorai statue is hidden there. On the premises, there are 48.5m-tall vermilion Konpon Daito stands glamorous, which is Japan’s first two-layer pagoda. Across from Konpon Daito, Mie-do in the middle, West Pagoda is located along with 19 other towers and halls. They are the 3-D representation of Mandara’s worldview based on the Esoteric Buddhism concept. Since all halls were built with meanings, the proper manner of worship is to keep your right shoulder toward the Golden Hall where the Buddha statue is and visit halls clockwise.