Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda: The Oldest Pagoda in Hyogo
The Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda (一乗寺三重塔, Ichijoji Sanjunoto) is a pagoda of 1171 at Ichijoji in Sakamoto-cho, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture, designated a National Treasure under the old system in 1901 and a National Treasure in 1952.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda as three bays square and three storeys, with a tiled roof. Kasai City says the base of the finial is inscribed with the year 1171, together with the names of the fund-raiser Ryusai and Ninsai, probably the abbot of the time. It is the oldest surviving pagoda in Hyogo Prefecture.
Why It Was Designated
According to Kasai City, each storey is three bays square, the reduction in plan grows greater toward the top, and the eave heights and projections shrink upward, preserving the look of an ancient pagoda. The finial, too, keeps an archaic character and takes up a third of the total height.
At the same time the pagoda shows many new techniques that anticipate medieval pagodas: rafters set in groups of six per bay, a surrounding veranda, and a central pillar that rises from above the first-storey ceiling. Most unusual are the gently convex roof surfaces and the absence of secondary ridges on each roof.
Kasai City values the Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda as the only pagoda of the late Heian period whose date is known, and as an extremely valuable source for the building techniques of the time.
What to Look For
From below, the tapering plan and a finial a third of the total height give the pagoda its weighty presence. Notice too the slight upward swell of the roof surfaces.
Kasai City notes that the red paint has flaked away and some later repairs can be seen. It can be viewed at close range within the precinct.
Visiting the Pagoda
Ichijoji is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is 500 yen, according to the Saigoku pilgrimage association. Access and treasure-hall booking are covered on the Ichijoji Temple page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda
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Q&A
- When was the Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda built?
- In 1171, according to the inscription on the base of its finial.
- When did the Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda become a National Treasure?
- It was listed under the old system in 1901 and designated a National Treasure in 1952.
- Why is the Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda important?
- It is the oldest surviving pagoda in Hyogo and the only late Heian pagoda with a known date.
- What is unusual about the pagoda?
- Its slightly convex roof surfaces and the absence of secondary ridges on each roof.
- How much does it cost to visit?
- Admission to Ichijoji is 500 yen; it is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Basic Information
| Name | Ichijoji Temple Three-Storey Pagoda (一乗寺三重塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | 821-17 Sakamoto-cho, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure (building) |
| Year Designated | National Treasure 1952/3/29 (Showa 27); old-system National Treasure 1901/3/27 (Meiji 34) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Three-bay, three-storey pagoda, tiled roof |
| Owner | Ichijoji |
| Public Access | Open within the temple (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 500 yen) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Ichijoji Three-Storey Pagoda (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2388
- Kasai City: Ichijoji Three-Storey Pagoda (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kasai.hyogo.jp/soshiki/34/1685.html
- Saigoku Pilgrimage Association: Ichijoji (Japanese)
- https://saikoku33.gr.jp/place/26
Last verified: 2026.09.27
