Myojoji Temple Five-Story Pagoda

Myojoji Temple Five-Storied Pagoda: The Only Wooden Five-Story Pagoda in the Hokuriku Region

Rising serenely against the rural skyline of the Noto Peninsula, the five-storied pagoda of Myojoji Temple is one of the most arresting sights in all of Ishikawa Prefecture. Standing 34.18 meters tall and clad in distinctive thin wooden shingles, this Edo-period masterpiece is the only wooden five-story pagoda in the entire Hokuriku region of Japan. For more than four centuries it has weathered the salt-laden winds of the Sea of Japan, including the powerful 2007 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which the pagoda survived without damage.

Located in the quiet town of Hakui, the pagoda is the symbol of Myojoji Temple, the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism in the Hokuriku region. A visit here offers travellers the rare experience of encountering an early Edo-period pagoda in its original setting, surrounded by nine other buildings that share its national Important Cultural Property status, all set within tranquil gardens that retain the contemplative atmosphere of centuries past.

Historical Background

Myojoji Temple was founded in 1294 (Einin 2) by the priest Nichizō, a disciple of the disciples of the great teacher Nichiren. According to temple tradition, Nichizō was travelling by ship from Sado Island to the port of Nanao when he engaged in a religious debate with a Shingon-sect monk named Manzō Hōin. Manzō was persuaded by Nichizō's teachings, took the new name Nichijō, and helped establish a new temple in the village of Takiya, in present-day Hakui City. This temple became Myojoji, which grew into the head temple of the Nichiren sect throughout the Hokuriku coastal region.

The temple's grandest period began in the early seventeenth century, when it received the patronage of the powerful Maeda family, the lords of the Kaga Domain. The third lord, Maeda Toshitsune, regarded Myojoji as the family temple of his mother, Jufukuin, and undertook a massive building campaign in her honour. The five-storied pagoda was a central element of this project. Construction began in 1615 (Genna 1) by order of Toshitsune, and the pagoda was completed in 1618 (Genna 4), as recorded on a wooden plaque preserved at the site.

The master carpenter responsible for the work was Sakagami Echigo-no-kami Yoshiaki of Echizen Kita-no-shō (in present-day Fukui Prefecture), a craftsman of the prestigious Kennin-ji school of carpentry. The Sakagami family served as official builders to the Maeda lords for three generations, and the pagoda is considered one of their finest works.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The pagoda was designated a national treasure under the Meiji-era preservation law on April 14, 1906, and this status was carried over as an Important Cultural Property under Japan's modern Cultural Properties Protection Law. The designation reflects several exceptional qualities.

First, the pagoda is an outstanding example of early Edo-period religious architecture, blending the grand and decorative spirit of the late Momoyama era with the more restrained refinement that came to define Edo design. It is one of only a small number of authentic wooden five-story pagodas surviving in Japan, and the only one in the Hokuriku region.

Second, the documented authorship by a master of the Kennin-ji carpentry tradition, together with the surviving wooden plaque recording the date of construction, gives the building unusual historical clarity. Few buildings of its age can be so confidently attributed.

Third, the pagoda forms part of an extraordinary ensemble. Ten of the wooden buildings within Myojoji's precincts are designated Important Cultural Properties, including the main hall, the founder's hall, the sutra repository, the study hall, the bell tower, the two-storied gate, and the mausoleum of Lady Jufukuin. The arrangement of three principal halls aligned in a single row is considered unique among Japanese temple complexes.

Architectural Highlights

The pagoda is a three-bay structure rising five stories to a total height of 34.18 metres, with a square base of approximately 4.85 metres on each side. The central pillar, around one metre in diameter, descends through the heart of the structure to a foundation stone, providing the seismic flexibility that has helped the pagoda survive earthquakes for more than four hundred years.

The roof is finished in tochi-buki, a covering of thin wooden shingles that is extremely rare among Japanese five-story pagodas, where copper or tile is far more common. The thin wood lends the silhouette a softer, more textured appearance and is well suited to the heavy snowfall of the Noto Peninsula.

On the lowest level, each of the four sides has a central paneled door carved with rich relief decoration depicting figures, birds, beasts, and plants. Pomegranates and other motifs in these carvings preserve the exuberant spirit of the Momoyama period. Around the first story runs a railed balcony with ornamental finial-topped posts, and the upper stories each feature their own decorative balconies.

Architecturally the exterior follows the wayō (Japanese) style, with three-tier bracketing at every level, while the interior of the first story incorporates elements of the karayō (Chinese) style, creating a harmonious blend of traditions. Faint traces of the original vermilion and verdigris pigments can still be seen on the timberwork, hinting at how brightly the pagoda once glowed against the green hillsides.

Visiting the Pagoda

Myojoji Temple is open to visitors throughout the year. Beyond the pagoda itself, the precincts contain ten Important Cultural Property buildings and a celebrated stroll-style pond garden that uses the pagoda as a borrowed scene framed through the trees. The view of the pagoda from the front garden of the study hall is widely considered the most beautiful angle, particularly in the soft light of late afternoon.

Visitors are asked to observe the quiet atmosphere of an active temple. Some halls and treasures are not open to the public at all times, so checking ahead is recommended for those with specific interests. A small admission fee supports the ongoing care of these centuries-old buildings.

Surrounding Attractions

The Noto Peninsula offers many rewarding destinations within easy reach of Myojoji. Nearby Chirihama Beach is famous for being one of the few beaches in the world where cars and buses can drive directly along the firm sand, providing a memorable coastal excursion. The town of Hakui itself is the home of the unusual Cosmo Isle Hakui space and UFO museum, which draws curious visitors from around Japan.

Travellers continuing further north can explore the dramatic Sea of Japan coastline, the morning markets of Wajima, the salt fields of the outer Noto coast, and the picturesque rice terraces of Senmaida. The hot spring resorts of Wakura Onsen near Nanao make a comfortable base for those wishing to spend several days in the region.