This is a hōtō-type stupa of reduced size. It is conceivable that it had been used as a relic container by keeping a relic case within the stupa. The stupa-body has a roof with the depiction of roof tiles and a sōrin-spire with a flaming magic jewel attached to the top of the roof. The cylindrical interior space is surrounded by a corridor and a railing. Double-doors are located at the four sides of the interior space. The inside of each door-panel is decorated with a painting of eight guardian deities in colors and gold foil. Staircases are modeled at the four sides of the base-part of the stupa. Kōzama openwork decorations are in the baseboards. Other well known wooden miniature stupas are the five-storied stupa in Tō-ji temple made in 1240, the tahō-tō-type stupa of Sankeien in Kanagawa prefecture made in 1450, a stupa in Jūrin-in temple in Nara, and others. There are some extant examples which were made during and after the middle ages. The miniature stupa introduced in this article is a notable example of the small wooden stupa category. 
Masterpieces of Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1993, p.107, no.83.