Godaido Hall

Godaido is a cliffside hall in the upper reaches of Yamadera. Enshrined there are the Godai Myo-o, the “Five Wisdom Kings” who are fearsome guardians of the Buddhist faith. Godaido overlooks the entire mountain temple complex and is visible from as far away as Yamadera Station below. The hall is built on stilts and protrudes from the cliffside. Access is via a narrow stone stairway that is easily overlooked, leading upward from the Kaisando, the hall dedicated to Yamadera’s founder. The vista looking out from Godaido is an unobstructed view of the temple complex and the valley below.