The major buildings that comprise a garan are as follows: a sanmon gate (the gate of a temple, it stands between the somon gate and the main hall), which symbolizes a border with the mundane world; a Hondo (main hall) dedicated to the principal image; a to (pagoda); a kodo (lecture hall); a place for study; a kuri; monks' living quarters, a jikido (refectory); a shoro (belfry); a tosu (toilet), etc.
伽藍を構成する主な建物として、俗世間との境界を示す山門、本尊を祀る本堂、塔、学習の場である講堂、僧の住居である庫裏、食堂（じきどう）、鐘楼、東司（とうす）などがある。