Nokyodo and Kaisando
Nokyodo
The remains of Yamadera’s founder, the monk Ennin (794–864), are said to rest in a coffin—once encrusted with gold—beneath the Nokyodo, a small, red sutra hall perched on a cliff in the upper reaches of Yamadera. At Yamadera, monks copy sutras as part of their training. The copying process takes up to four years. Once they finish, they ritualistically place the sutras in the Nokyodo as an offering to Ennin. The original structure was repaired in 1987. It is an Important Prefectural Property, and one of Yamadera’s most iconic sights.
Kaisando
The Kaisando is a hall next to the Nokyodo. The hall enshrines a wooden statue of the founder, to which monks make offerings of food and incense both morning and night. It is only open one day each year—January 14, the anniversary of Ennin’s death. On this day, a Buddhist memorial service is held in his honor. The current hall dates from the mid-1800s.