Jihou-tou: A Century-Old Bell Tower That Still Tells Time
In the heart of the Shiwahori district in Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, stands a modest yet remarkable concrete tower known as the Jihou-tou (時報塔), or "Time Signal Tower." Built in 1922 during the Taisho era, this 7.8-meter-tall structure has been faithfully marking the hours for over a century — and it continues to do so today. Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 1997, the Jihou-tou is a living monument to the ambitions, international connections, and community spirit of rural Japan in the early twentieth century.
A Tower Born from Across the Pacific
The story of the Jihou-tou begins not in Hiroshima, but thousands of miles away in the United States. In the early 1920s, fifteen emigrants originally from the village of Shiwahori who had settled in America donated an American-made bell to their hometown. The gift was made in response to a campaign by the local branch of the Zaigō Gunjinkai (Imperial Military Reservists' Association), which promoted the concept of "jiji reikō" — punctuality and the disciplined observance of time.
With the bell in hand, the community came together to build a tower worthy of housing it. Completed in 1922, the Jihou-tou was erected atop a cut-stone platform in the center of the village. Locally, it became known by affectionate names: "Kakusei no Kane" (the Bell of Awakening) and "Kanetsukidō" (the Bell-Striking Hall). From the day it was completed, the tower served as the village's timekeeper, its bell ringing out across the fields and rooftops to mark the passing hours.
Art Deco in the Japanese Countryside
What makes the Jihou-tou particularly striking is its architectural design. While the structure is primarily reinforced concrete, its walls are textured with deliberate grooves and ridges to resemble hewn stone — a technique that gives the tower a sense of permanence and gravity far beyond its modest height. The exterior features Art Deco-inspired decorative elements, a style that was becoming fashionable worldwide in the 1920s. The geometric patterns and clean lines of the tower's ornamentation reflect the global reach of this design movement, which had traveled from the ateliers of Paris to the rice paddies of rural Hiroshima.
Inscribed on the four faces of the tower are Japanese slogans that capture the spirit of the age: "Toki wa Kane" (Time is Money), "Teiji Reikō" (Observe Punctuality), and "Jikan Setsuyaku" (Economize Time). These inscriptions, carved into the concrete, serve as a fascinating cultural record of Taisho-era values — a period when Japan was rapidly modernizing and adopting ideas from both the West and its own evolving social consciousness.
The upper portion of the tower is constructed of wood and capped with a Japanese-style roof, creating a distinctive hybrid of Western and Japanese architectural traditions. This blend of styles — Art Deco concrete below, traditional Japanese woodwork above — makes the Jihou-tou an unusual and visually compelling piece of Taisho-era architecture.
Why Was It Designated a Cultural Property?
The Jihou-tou was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (Registered Cultural Property — Buildings) on September 3, 1997. Several factors contributed to its designation.
First, the tower is a rare surviving example of early reinforced concrete construction in a rural Japanese setting. While concrete structures from this period can be found in major cities, it is unusual to find one in a small agricultural village, making the Jihou-tou an important document of how modern building materials and techniques spread into Japan's countryside during the Taisho era.
Second, the tower's Art Deco-influenced design and stone-like surface treatment represent a distinctive approach to architectural ornamentation that reflects the cultural currents of the 1920s. The inscriptions on its walls add further historical value, capturing the social ideals promoted during this transformative period in Japanese history.
Third, the tower embodies a remarkable story of transpacific community bonds. The fact that Japanese emigrants in America donated the bell that inspired its construction speaks to the deep connections maintained between diaspora communities and their hometowns — a theme of enduring significance in Japanese social history.
Finally, the tower remains in active use. After a siren was installed in the upper section around 1942, and following a comprehensive restoration in 2000, the Jihou-tou continues to sound five times each day at 7:00, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 17:00. This continuity of function — a century of unbroken timekeeping — is itself a powerful argument for its cultural significance.
Highlights and What to See
Visitors to the Jihou-tou will find a structure that rewards close inspection. The textured concrete walls, with their carefully crafted stone-like appearance, reveal the skill of the builders who constructed the tower over a hundred years ago. The Art Deco geometric patterns and the hand-carved inscriptions are best appreciated up close, where you can trace the letters and feel the weight of their historical context.
If you time your visit to coincide with one of the five daily siren soundings, you can experience the tower performing its original purpose — a moment that connects you directly to the daily rhythms of village life as they have been marked here for more than a century.
The surrounding Shiwahori district retains much of its rural character, with traditional farmhouses and rice paddies stretching out around the tower. Nearby, you can find an atmospheric old sake brewery with a distinctive chimney, adding to the nostalgic charm of the area. The quiet, unhurried pace of life here stands in pleasant contrast to the busier tourist destinations of Hiroshima Prefecture, offering visitors a glimpse of authentic rural Japan.
Nearby Attractions
The Jihou-tou makes an excellent starting point for exploring the wider Higashihiroshima area, which offers a rich variety of cultural and culinary experiences.
The most famous attraction in the region is the Saijō Sake Brewery District, located near JR Saijō Station. Saijō is renowned as one of Japan's three great sake-brewing regions, alongside Nada (Hyogo) and Fushimi (Kyoto). Seven active breweries line the atmospheric Sakagura-dōri (Sake Brewery Street), where visitors can enjoy tastings, tour historic facilities, and sample the pure underground water that gives Saijō sake its distinctive character. The streetscape of red-brick chimneys, white plastered walls, and traditional namako-kabe (sea cucumber walls) has been recognized as part of Japan's Modern Industrial Heritage.
Also in Higashihiroshima, the ruins of Aki Kokubunji Temple offer a peaceful walk through a historically significant archaeological site. The Shiwamisarashi Park provides panoramic views of the Shiwa area, particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season. For a more immersive cultural experience, the town of Shiraichi preserves a remarkably intact streetscape of Edo-to-early-Showa-period merchant houses.
Higashihiroshima is also home to Hiroshima University, giving the city a youthful energy and a variety of international dining options that complement its traditional attractions.
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Q&A
- Can I hear the siren of the Jihou-tou?
- Yes. The siren still sounds five times daily at 7:00, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 17:00. If you plan your visit around one of these times, you can hear it in action.
- Is there an admission fee to see the Jihou-tou?
- No. The Jihou-tou stands in a public area in the center of the Shiwahori district and can be viewed freely at any time. The tower itself is not open for entry.
- How do I get to the Jihou-tou by public transport?
- From JR Hachihonmatsu Station on the JR Sanyo Line, take the Shiwa Loop Bus for approximately 25 minutes and get off at the "Shiwahori" bus stop. The tower is about a 5-minute walk from there. By car, it is approximately 15 minutes from the Shiwa Interchange on the San'yō Expressway.
- Is there English signage at the site?
- As a small rural cultural property, signage is primarily in Japanese. It is recommended to research the tower's history before your visit or use a translation app on-site.
- What is the best season to visit?
- The Jihou-tou can be visited year-round. Spring (cherry blossom season) and autumn (foliage season) offer especially picturesque settings, with the rural landscape of Shiwahori at its most beautiful.
Basic Information
| Name | Jihou-tou (時報塔 / Time Signal Tower) |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Kakusei no Kane (Bell of Awakening), Kanetsukidō (Bell-Striking Hall) |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Buildings) |
| Date of Registration | September 3, 1997 |
| Year Built | 1922 (Taisho 11) |
| Structure | Reinforced concrete (upper portion: wood); Height 7.8 m |
| Address | 3324-7 Ninohira, Shiwahori, Shiwa-chō, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Owner | Higashihiroshima City |
| Admission | Free (exterior viewing only) |
| Access | Approx. 15 min by car from Shiwa IC (San'yō Expressway); or 25 min by Shiwa Loop Bus from JR Hachihonmatsu Station, alight at "Shiwahori" stop, then 5 min walk |
| Contact | Higashihiroshima City Board of Education, Cultural Properties Section: 082-420-0977 |
References
- 登録有形文化財 時報塔 - 東広島市
- https://www.city.higashihiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/kyoikuiinkaishogaigakushu/3/11/bunkazai/town/shiwa/39713.html
- 時報塔 - 文化遺産オンライン（文化庁）
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/180223
- 時報塔 | 東広島市観光協会
- https://hh-kanko.ne.jp/sightseeing/273/
- 時報塔 - Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%99%82%E5%A0%B1%E5%A1%94
- 時報塔 | ひろしま観光ナビ
- https://dive-hiroshima.com/explore/1197/
- 時報塔、東広島市に大正から残るレトロな塔は国の登録有形文化財 | tabetainjya.com
- https://tabetainjya.com/archives/cat43/post_2815/
Last verified: 2026.03.26