Kōdai-in Tahōtō: An Imperial Pagoda on the Sacred Mountain
Hidden among the towering cedars of Mount Kōya's Gonoshimuro-dani valley, the Kōdai-in Tahōtō (光臺院多宝塔) is a beautifully crafted two-storied pagoda that stands as a quiet testament to centuries of imperial devotion. Built atop an artificial hill within the temple's renowned garden, this compact yet exquisitely detailed structure was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in December 2024, formally recognizing its architectural significance and historical value.
Kōdai-in itself is one of the most distinguished temples on Mount Kōya, known as "Kōya Omuro" for its long association with the imperial household. For nearly nine centuries, successive imperial princes served as its head priests, and emperors and retired emperors chose it as their lodging during pilgrimages to the mountain. Against this remarkable backdrop, the tahōtō stands as a fitting symbol of the temple's enduring elegance and spiritual heritage.
Historical Background
Kōdai-in was founded by Prince Kakuhō (覚法親王), the fourth son of Emperor Shirakawa, in the early twelfth century. Prince Kakuhō was inspired by the earlier visits of Prince Shōshin, a son of Emperor Sanjō, who had built a small hermitage at this site in 1059 and 1085. Kakuhō constructed prayer halls and residential buildings, and transferred the prayer hall from the Shirakawa Imperial Palace to serve as the main hall. For this reason, the temple came to be known as "Kōya Omuro," a title reflecting its status as an extension of the imperial Omuro residence in Kyoto.
Over the following centuries, twenty-seven successive imperial princes served as the temple's head priests. Among the most notable was Prince Dōsuke (道助法親王), the second son of Emperor Go-Toba, who resided at the temple until his death in 1249. The tahōtō was originally erected in his memory. The first pagoda, believed to have been built during the Momoyama period (late sixteenth to early seventeenth century), stood on the temple grounds for several centuries before being relocated.
In the early twentieth century, the original tahōtō was acquired by Fujita Denzaburō, a prominent Osaka industrialist and art collector, and moved to the grounds of his residence in Osaka (now the Fujita Art Museum). Recognizing the importance of maintaining a pagoda at Kōdai-in, the Fujita family commissioned a faithful reconstruction in the same style. Completed around 1917 (Taishō 6), this is the tahōtō that stands today, carrying on the spiritual and architectural legacy of the original structure.
Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property
The Kōdai-in Tahōtō was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) on December 3, 2024. The registration recognizes several noteworthy qualities of the structure.
Despite being a Taishō-era reconstruction, the tahōtō faithfully reproduces the architectural vocabulary of the Edo period, including the use of degumi (出組) bracket complexes on the lower story and elaborate four-stepped (四手先) brackets on the upper story. Both levels feature fan-shaped rafters (二軒扇垂木), a technique requiring considerable skill. The chrysanthemum crest carved into the kaerumata (蟇股, frog-leg struts) speaks to the imperial connections of the temple. The overall craftsmanship is described in the official registration as "precise and refined, befitting a distinguished temple."
Although the building covers only 6.0 square meters in floor area, its meticulous construction and harmonious proportions make it a representative example of tahōtō architecture within the Kōyasan temple complex, contributing to the cultural landscape of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Architectural Highlights
The Kōdai-in Tahōtō is a wooden two-storied pagoda (多宝塔) with a copper-plate roof. Its modest scale belies the sophistication of its construction. Visitors with an eye for traditional Japanese architecture will appreciate several distinctive features.
The lower story is surrounded on all four sides by a veranda with ornamental giboshi-topped balustrades (擬宝珠高欄). The central bay features sankarado (桟唐戸) paneled doors, while the side bays have renjimado (連子窓) lattice windows. The bracket system on this level is degumi, with kaerumata frog-leg struts in the central bay and mato-zuka (間斗束) strut-blocks in the side bays.
The upper story is circular in plan, characteristic of the tahōtō form, with a distinctive kamebara (亀腹, literally "turtle belly") — a smooth, convex white plaster band — clad in copper plate. The bracket system here is considerably more elaborate, employing four-stepped projections. The roof is finished in copper plate, and both stories feature the technically demanding fan-rafter (扇垂木) eave construction.
The pagoda sits on a tsukiyama (築山), an artificial hill within the temple garden, elevating it above the surrounding landscape and creating an elegant focal point. The principal image enshrined within the tahōtō is Dainichi Nyorai (大日如来, the Cosmic Buddha), though the interior is not open to the public.
The Temple and Its Garden
The tahōtō is best appreciated as part of the broader Kōdai-in complex. The temple is situated at the northernmost edge of Kōyasan's settlement, set back more than 100 meters from the main road and surrounded by ancient cedar trees, creating an atmosphere of exceptional tranquility.
The temple's principal image, a standing Amida Triad (阿弥陀三尊立像) by the Kamakura-period master sculptor Kaikei, is designated a national Important Cultural Property. The triad is considered one of Kaikei's finest late works, with the flanking bodhisattvas leaning slightly forward in a graceful welcoming gesture.
Two of the temple's three gardens were designed by Shigemori Mirei, one of the twentieth century's most celebrated garden designers. The Shoin Garden (書院庭園), created in 1963, features a central pond and sculpted mounds representing the eight peaks surrounding Kōyasan. This garden was designated a Registered Monument (登録記念物) in 2017.
The temple grounds also contain the memorial stones of several historically significant figures, including Toyotomi Hidetsugu, the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who met a tragic end at Kōyasan in 1595, and Oda Hidenobu, the eldest grandson of Oda Nobunaga.
Visitor Information
Kōdai-in is located in the Gonoshimuro-dani valley area of Kōyasan. As an active temple with limited staff, general sightseeing visits may not always be possible. Visitors are encouraged to contact the temple in advance or arrange a stay through the Kōyasan Shukubō (temple lodging) Association to experience the temple more fully, including morning prayers and a closer view of the Kaikei sculptures.
To reach the temple, take the Nankai Kōya Line to Kōyasan Station, then the bus to the Kōya Keisatsu-mae (高野警察前) stop. The temple is about a five-minute walk from the bus stop. Temple lodging guests enjoy two meals of traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (shōjin ryōri).
Surrounding Attractions
Mount Kōya offers a wealth of cultural and spiritual experiences within easy reach of Kōdai-in. The Okunoin (奥の院) cemetery and the mausoleum of Kōbō Daishi form the spiritual heart of Kōyasan, with a lantern-lit path winding through thousands of ancient memorial stones beneath towering cedars. The Danjō Garan (壇上伽藍) complex features the iconic Konpon Daitō vermillion pagoda and other important structures from Kōyasan's founding era.
The Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺), the administrative headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, houses magnificent fusuma paintings and Japan's largest rock garden. The Kōyasan Reihōkan Museum displays a rotating selection of Buddhist art from temples across the mountain. For a quieter experience, visitors can explore the temple-lined streets and enjoy the mountain's seasonal beauty, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant autumn foliage.
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Q&A
- What is the Kōdai-in Tahōtō?
- The Kōdai-in Tahōtō is a wooden two-storied pagoda (tahōtō) located within the grounds of Kōdai-in temple on Mount Kōya, Wakayama Prefecture. Built in 1917 during the Taishō era, it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in December 2024. The pagoda was rebuilt by the Fujita family to replace an earlier Edo-period tahōtō that had been relocated to Osaka.
- Can visitors enter the tahōtō?
- The interior of the tahōtō, which enshrines a statue of Dainichi Nyorai (the Cosmic Buddha), is not open to the public. However, the pagoda can be admired from the temple garden. Visitors wishing to see the temple's other treasures, including the Important Cultural Property Amida Triad by Kaikei, are advised to arrange a stay at the temple's shukubō (lodging) or contact the temple in advance.
- What happened to the original tahōtō?
- The original tahōtō, believed to date from the late seventeenth century (Enpō to Genroku era, 1679–1691), was relocated from Kōdai-in to the Osaka residence of industrialist Fujita Denzaburō in the early twentieth century. It now stands within the grounds of the Fujita Art Museum in Osaka. In return, the Fujita family commissioned the construction of the current tahōtō at Kōdai-in in the same architectural style.
- Why is Kōdai-in called "Kōya Omuro"?
- Kōdai-in earned the title "Kōya Omuro" (高野御室) because of its deep connections to the imperial household. For approximately 900 years, twenty-seven successive imperial princes served as the temple's head priests. The name reflects its status as a branch of the Omuro palace (Ninna-ji in Kyoto), and it operated with a degree of independence from the main Kōyasan administration due to its imperial associations.
- Is it possible to stay overnight at Kōdai-in?
- Yes. Kōdai-in operates as a shukubō (temple lodging) and accepts overnight guests. Stays include two meals of traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (shōjin ryōri), and guests can participate in morning prayers. Reservations can be made through the Kōyasan Shukubō Association. The temple is known for its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful gardens by Shigemori Mirei, and warm hospitality.
Basic Information
| Name | Kōdai-in Tahōtō (光臺院多宝塔) |
|---|---|
| Cultural Property Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) — Registered December 3, 2024 |
| Construction Date | 1917 (Taishō 6) |
| Structure | Wooden two-storied pagoda (tahōtō), copper-plate roof, building area 6.0 m² |
| Principal Image | Dainichi Nyorai (not open to the public) |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Kōdai-in (宗教法人光臺院) |
| Location | 649 Kōyasan, Kōya-chō, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture |
| Access | Nankai Kōya Line to Kōyasan Station, then bus to Kōya Keisatsu-mae stop, 5-minute walk |
References
- 文化遺産オンライン — 光臺院多宝塔
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/565428
- 光臺院公式サイト
- https://kodaiin.jp/about/
- 高野山宿坊協会 — 光臺院
- https://www.shukubo.net/contents/stay/kodaiin.html
- 藤田美術館多宝塔（旧光臺院多宝塔）— 大阪市
- https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/kyoiku/page/0000571248.html
- 和歌山観光情報 — 光台院
- https://wakayama-kanko.com/sekaiisan-spot/405/
Last verified: 2026.04.03