Garan's tranquil setting shelters two architectural gems: the Kondo Hall and the towering Konpon Daito Pagoda. The Kondo Hall, a grand wooden temple, has risen from the ashes to stand proud since its 1932 reconstruction. It honors Sakyamuni Buddha, renowned for his healing powers.

Adjacent, the Konpon Daito Pagoda, a 45-meter-tall, two-story structure, houses the Buddha Dainichi Nyorai, central to esoteric Buddhism. Its interior, adorned with a 3D mandala, is a rare and awe-inspiring spectacle.

Visionary Kobo Daishi envisioned both structures, though he did not witness their completion. His spiritual heirs carried out his vision, constructing these monumental sites and enriching Garan with a constellation of halls and pagodas.

The Koyasan Reihokan Museum is a keeper of Koyasan's profound religious and cultural legacy. Its grand entrance hall, inspired by the iconic Byodoin Temple in Uji, invites visitors into a realm of ancient grandeur. Inside, three captivating exhibition spaces alternate between permanent and temporary displays, offering a continuous feast for the senses.

Within its hallowed walls, a trove of thousands of religious artifacts awaits discovery. The permanent exhibition is a sensory symphony, showcasing exquisite statues, intricate mandalas that unfold like cosmic maps, and a variety of sacred tools and paintings. A highlight is the poignant scroll depicting the "lying image of the Buddha on his last day." Complementing this, a dynamic rotation of temporary exhibitions offers a curated selection from the museum's vast collection, changing with the seasons to continuously surprise and delight visitors.

Kongobu-ji Temple, atop Koyasan's sacred slopes, is a shrine to spiritual awakening and architectural splendor. As the Shingon Sect's head temple, it's a revered site with centuries-old wooden structures and serene gardens. The Konpon Daito Pagoda, with its golden spire, houses Buddha Dainichi Nyorai in a 3D mandala.

The Kondo Hall, rebuilt since the 12th century, is adorned with intricate mandalas and paintings. The temple's gardens, with ancient trees and meticulously arranged stones, invite contemplation. It's a journey into Buddhist practice and Japanese culture, where nature and wisdom converge, leaving a lasting sense of peace and enlightenment.

The Okuno-in at Koyasan is a serene sanctuary, where ancient cedars stand like silent sentinels over the resting places of nobles and samurai. The path winds through cedar forests, with the scent of incense and the whisper of ancient prayers.

The majestic mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon Sect, is adorned with intricate stone carvings and surrounded by a tranquil pond. It's a place of profound reverence and contemplation.

The Okuno-in is a journey through time, where the past and present converge. It's a place where the veil between the living and the dead is thin, and where the spirit of Kobo Daishi still lingers.

Here, you can walk the winding paths, surrounded by ancient cedars, feeling the weight of history upon your shoulders. You can visit the tombs of the famous and the ordinary, and reflect on the impermanence of life and the importance of spiritual connection.

The Okuno-in is a place of peace and contemplation, where the soul can find solace and the spirit can be uplifted. It's a journey that will leave you with a sense of wonder and reverence, and a deeper understanding of the profound connection between life and death, and the eternal journey of the human spirit.