There were more temples built in mountainous areas such as Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei and Kongobu-ji Temple on Mt. Koya, and these were different from temples built in Asuka or Heijokyo (ancient Nara) and had a more free outlay of temple buildings.
比叡山延暦寺や高野山金剛峯寺など山中に寺院が建立されることが多くなり、飛鳥や平城京に建立された寺院と異なり自由な伽藍配置となっている。