Kongobu-ji Temple — Shingon Buddhism Headquarters

Kongobu-ji (金剛峯寺) is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism and the administrative center of Koyasan's 117 temples, founded by Kobo Daishi in 816 AD. The temple complex features expansive wooden halls with tatami rooms decorated with exquisite fusuma (sliding door) paintings by Kano school masters, depicting nature scenes (cherry blossoms, pine trees, cranes) in gold leaf and mineral pigments. The main hall's interior includes the Willow Room (Yanagi-no-Ma, 柳の間) where Toyotomi Hidetsugu, nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was ordered to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) in 1595 — the ceiling still shows a bloodstain pattern from that event.

The temple's rock garden, Banryutei (蟠龍庭), is Japan's largest stone garden — 2,340 square meters of white gravel raked into wave patterns with 140 granite rocks arranged to represent two dragons emerging from clouds. Viewed from the veranda, the garden creates a meditative space embodying Zen aesthetics and impermanence. Kongobu-ji also houses the temple's kitchen (Daidokoro, 台所) — massive iron cauldrons and wooden utensils used historically to prepare shojin ryori for hundreds of monks. The temple is a living institution — monks in training (shukke, 出家) study esoteric Buddhism here, continuing lineages stretching back to Kobo Daishi. Visitors can purchase omamori (protective amulets) blessed in the main hall, connecting them to Shingon's spiritual lineage.