# Danjo Garan

> One of the two sacred centres of Koyasan, a sanctuary of halls and gates around the vermilion Konpon Daito, a great pagoda enshrining a three-dimensional mandala of Buddhas.

- Prefecture: Wakayama
- Type: Temple
- Address: Koya, Wakayama, Japan
- Opening hours: Mon–Sun 08:30–17:00
- Admission: 500 yen
- Official site: https://www.koyasan.or.jp/

The Danjo Garan is the ceremonial heart of Koyasan, the sacred precinct that Kukai laid out first when he founded the mountain monastery. At its centre rises the Konpon Daito, a great vermilion pagoda nearly fifty metres tall whose interior forms a three-dimensional mandala, with a central Dainichi Buddha surrounded by four further Buddhas and painted pillars. Around it stand the main Kondo hall, the Miedo, the oldest Fudo-do, and rows of gates and sub-halls set among tall cedars. The grounds are free to wander, while the Konpon Daito and Kondo have a small entry fee, and the complex pairs naturally with a walk to nearby Kongobu-ji.

## FAQ

### Is there an admission fee for the Danjo Garan?

Walking the grounds is free, but entering the Konpon Daito pagoda or the Kondo hall costs about 500 yen each; the interior mandala of the pagoda is well worth it.

### How far is Danjo Garan from Kongobu-ji?

About a five-minute walk. Many visitors combine the Danjo Garan, Kongobu-ji and the Okunoin cemetery into a single day on the mountain.

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Source: Danjo Garan — Japan Voyage