A Skirted Bell Tower of 1333
The Ishiteji Temple Bell Tower (石手寺鐘楼) is a bell tower with a skirted base of 1333 in Ishite, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on May 27, 1907 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a bell tower three bays by two with a skirted lower storey, under a hip-and-gable roof of cypress bark; designation number 00422.
The 1907 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
A Skirted Bell Tower of 1333
According to the Agency's detailed commentary, Ishiteji is said to have been founded in 728 by Ochi no Tamazumi at the command of Emperor Shomu as Anyoji, and renamed Ishiteji in 892.
The bell tower dates from 1333; three bays by two, it has a flared, skirt-like lower storey and a hip-and-gable roof of cypress bark (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, 1333, and its form, a skirted bell tower with a hip-and-gable roof, set out what was designated.
What to Look For
Look for the skirted lower storey and the cypress-bark roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Ishiteji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Matsuyama City, Ishiteji is the 51st temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage and about 25 minutes on foot from Dogo Onsen Honkan. No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The seven designated structures are introduced together on the Ishiteji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1333 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What form does it take?
- Three bays by two with a skirted base.
- What is the roof?
- Hip-and-gable, of cypress bark.
- Where is it?
- At Ishiteji in Matsuyama, Ehime.
- When was the Ishiteji Temple Bell Tower designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On May 27, 1907 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ishiteji Temple Bell Tower (石手寺鐘楼) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ishite 2-chome, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1907/05/27 (Meiji 40) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 × 2 bays, skirted base, hip-and-gable, cypress bark |
| Owner | Ishiteji Temple |
| Public Access | About 25 minutes on foot from Dogo Onsen Honkan (Matsuyama City) |
References
- Ishiteji Temple Bell Tower (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3313
- Dogo walking guide (Matsuyama City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/hodo/h31/202002/dogoinbound.files/course_01jp.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
