What the Drum Tower Is
Kosanji Temple Drum Tower is a drum tower 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 west arm of the Arhat Hall and answers the Bell Tower behind the east arm.
It is single-storey timber work under tile, covering 32 square metres, three bays by two, roofed hip-and-gable in Hongawarabuki. The Agency for Cultural Affairs commentary records that the two towers match in size and form down to the smallest ornament.
The ground floor, however, is a Doma paved on the diagonal. The upper level carries a veranda without Kōran railing, the brackets step out twice, and the eaves run double rows of closely spaced rafters. The two towers sit symmetrically about the central axis with the worship hall between them.
Why It Was Registered
Kosanji Temple Drum Tower was registered under the criterion for work not easily reproduced. Fitting twice-stepped brackets and double rafter rows onto a small skirted tower, and then matching a twin exactly, is the achievement the criterion recognises.
Building two identical things can be harder than building one. Member dimensions, the pitch of the colouring and the placement of every fitting all have to agree. The Drum Tower and the Bell Tower are a case where that was carried through. The temple records that both were built from drawings of the bell tower at Shinyakushiji in Nara.
It was registered on 19 September 2003 under number 34-0047, next to the Bell Tower at 34-0046.
What to Look For
Start with the floor. Diagonal paving sets square tiles at forty-five degrees so the joints read as a lattice on the bias. The lower level has posts but no walls, and that diagonal floor spreads out beneath them. Built as a twin to the Bell Tower, this is the one place where the two part company.
Then look up at the eaves. Double rows of closely spaced Taruki read from below as thin members marching at even intervals, and above them twice-stepped Kumimono push forward to carry the overhang. On a small building that density shows.
The missing Kōran matters too. Without a railing the upper silhouette tightens, which sharpens the contrast with the splay of the plastered skirt below. Colouring is livelier than on the model, as the temple states, and here the white lime plane and the painted timber meet at close quarters.
Walk between the two towers and compare. The worship hall sits between them, so they rarely enter one view, but going back and forth makes clear what is shared and what is not.
Visiting the Drum Tower
The interior of Kosanji Temple Drum Tower is closed and the upper level cannot be climbed. The lower level has no walls, so the paved floor can be seen from outside between the posts.
Coming round the west end of the Arhat Hall brings the skirt and the eaves into one view. To study the rafters, step back a few paces rather than standing underneath, so the angle opens up. With the sun behind you the white plaster blows out; in shade, the carving in the timber reads better.
Photography for personal enjoyment is permitted, including on a personal blog or social media account. Commercial use without permission requires an application, and drones are banned. Opening hours and admission cover the whole precinct and are set out on the Kosanji Temple page.
Q&A
- How does Kosanji Temple Drum Tower differ from the Bell Tower?
- The ground floor. The Drum Tower has a diagonally paved earth floor, and it stands behind the west arm of the Arhat Hall while the Bell Tower stands behind the east.
- Can you go inside Kosanji Temple Drum Tower?
- The interior is closed and the upper level cannot be climbed, but the lower level has no walls, so the paved floor is visible from outside.
- How big is Kosanji Temple Drum Tower?
- Three bays by two, covering 32 square metres, in single-storey timber under a hip-and-gable tiled roof.
- What are the eaves of Kosanji Temple Drum Tower like?
- Double rows of closely spaced rafters, carried on brackets that step forward twice.
- When was Kosanji Temple Drum Tower built?
- In 1940. It was registered on 19 September 2003 under number 34-0047.
Basic Information
| Name | Kosanji Temple Drum 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 32 square metres |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Kosanji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable during opening hours; interior closed |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Kosanji Temple Drum Tower (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003589
- 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
