At the western end of Koya-san, this complex of eight principal buildings represents the spiritual heart of the mountaintop monastery founded by Kobo Daishi in 816. The vermillion Konpon Daito — the Great Pagoda — is the centrepiece, its vivid colour popping against the surrounding cedars. The nearby Kondo (Golden Hall) and the recently rebuilt Chumon gate complete a tableau that spans from early Buddhism to modern reconstruction. Even if many buildings are 20th-century recreations, the sacred energy of the precinct is palpable. The name comes from Sanskrit for 'monastery' — a reminder of the global roots of what feels deeply Japanese.