What the Bell Tower Is
Kosanji Temple Bell Tower is a belfry of 1940 on the lowest terrace of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2003. It stands behind the eastern arm of the Arhat Hall and answers the Drum Tower behind the western arm.
It measures three bays by two, roofed hip-and-gable in Hongawarabuki tiling, single-storey timber work covering 31 square metres. A white plastered skirt wraps the lower part, and the upper level carries a projecting veranda with no Kōran railing. Inside the upper level, the centre is left open to the roof with floors laid on either side.
The model is the bell tower of Shinyakushiji in Nara. The temple notes that this pair of towers belongs to its earlier work and that, at a time when most of its buildings were drifting away from their models, these two stayed broadly faithful.
Why It Was Registered
Kosanji Temple Bell Tower was registered under the criterion for work not easily reproduced. Bringing off a skirted belfry, including the junction between plastered surface and timber, is the skill the criterion recognises.
It is not a faithful copy, though. The temple lists the changes: a slight curve added to the skirt, more struts between the brackets, a livelier colour scheme. These it calls deliberate changes made on the founder's own judgement. Stating outright that a building is not a mere reproduction is a habit that runs through the temple's account of its whole precinct.
The registration date is 19 September 2003 and the number 34-0046; the matching Drum Tower carries 34-0047.
What to Look For
The skirt catches the eye first. A white plastered plane splays outward toward the ground, and the timber levels sit above it. The slight curve the temple mentions is in the profile of that plane: seen from directly to one side, the line is not quite straight.
The upper veranda has no Kōran. With no railing, the silhouette gains only one extra horizontal, which reads as lightness to anyone used to belfries with balustrades.
Inside the upper level, the centre is open to the roof with floors on either side, an arrangement that clears the middle for the bell. Even from outside, gaps between the brackets hint at the height within.
Comparing the Bell Tower with the Drum Tower is part of the interest. The two were built to identical dimensions in identical form, yet the ground floor is finished differently. Seeing them one after the other shows both the intent to make a pair and the habit of introducing small differences within it.
Visiting the Bell Tower
The interior of Kosanji Temple Bell Tower is closed and the upper level cannot be climbed. Viewing is from the outside.
Coming round the east end of the Arhat Hall brings the skirt and the upper level into one view. Trees stand close, so getting far enough back for the whole building takes some choosing of position. To study the brackets, step away rather than standing directly beneath, and the double rows of Taruki come into view as well.
Photography for personal enjoyment is permitted, including on a personal blog or social media account. Commercial use without permission is not allowed. Opening hours and admission are set out on the Kosanji Temple page.
Q&A
- Can you climb Kosanji Temple Bell Tower?
- No. The interior is closed and viewing is from the outside only.
- How does Kosanji Temple Bell Tower differ from the Drum Tower?
- They were built as a pair to the same dimensions and form, but the ground floor is finished differently. The Bell Tower stands behind the east arm of the Arhat Hall, the Drum Tower behind the west.
- What was Kosanji Temple Bell Tower modelled on?
- The bell tower of Shinyakushiji in Nara, with a curve added to the skirt, extra struts between the brackets and brighter colouring.
- How big is Kosanji Temple Bell Tower?
- Three bays by two, covering 31 square metres, hip-and-gable roofed with temple tiling and standing on a white plastered skirt.
- When was Kosanji Temple Bell Tower built?
- In 1940. It was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property on 19 September 2003.
Basic Information
| Name | Kosanji Temple Bell Tower |
|---|---|
| Location | 553-2 Setoda, Setoda-cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered on 2003/9/19 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber structure, tiled roof, building area 31 square metres |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Kosanji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable during opening hours; interior closed |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Kosanji Temple Bell Tower (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003588
- Guide to the Halls and Pagodas (Kosanji Museum)
- https://www.kousanji.or.jp/map.html
- On Photography (Kosanji Museum)
- https://www.kousanji.or.jp/news/photograph-manners/
Last verified: 2026.09.14
