Standing before Kōbō-daishi’s mausoleum, at a spot where his earliest disciples held services after his passing, is a large building called the Tōrōdō, or "Lantern Hall."

While it replaces earlier structures dating from the 11th century, the present building is from 1964. Inside, thousands of golden votive lanterns hang from the ceiling. Additional lanterns of various sizes are arrayed in the building's basement as well as a nearby annex.

While the sections to the left and right of the Tōrōdō have altars before two of the five Wisdom Kings (Aizen Myōō and Fudō Myōō, respectively), the altars of the central section are placed before a window that faces the mausoleum.

Visitors who wish to get closer, must exit the Lantern Hall on the left and walk around to the back of the building.

While most of the hall's 25,000 lanterns are illuminated by electricity, several of the more prominent ones are oil burning lamps. The flames of three famous lanterns are believed to have remained lit for nearly a thousand years. They are displayed along the back wall at the center of the Tōrōdō.

The Kishin-tō was purportedly first lit in the year 1016 by the holy man Jōyō (958-1047) for the salvation of his mother. Also known as Kishin Shōnin, Jōyō is credited with having helped rebuild Mt. Kōya after a series of catastrophic fires. A second lamp was donated by retired emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129) in the year 1103. According to a popular legend, the third lamp was the gift of a poor maiden who sold her hair to a wig maker in order to make the donation on behalf of her adoptive parents. The filial young woman's name was Oteru (which means "to shine") and her lamp is called the Hinnyo-no-ittō, or "The Poor Woman's Solitary Lamp." The legend tells us that when her modest donation received the mockery and contempt of a rich man who had made a more extravagant gift, a strong gust of wind immediately arose from the direction of the Inner Sanctuary. It blew out all of the wealthy man's lamps leaving Oteru's untouched.