A Stone Pagoda in Noto
The Myosenji Temple Stone Five-Storied Pagoda (明泉寺五重塔) is a five-storied stone pagoda of the early Muromachi period (1333 to 1392) in Anamizu Town, Hosu District, Ishikawa Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on May 21, 1974 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a five-storied pagoda of stone; a former first-storey wall stone is designated with it; designation number 01940.
A Large Stone Pagoda on the Noto Peninsula
The Myosenji Temple Stone Five-Storied Pagoda is a large stone pagoda on the Noto Peninsula, about 6.68 metres tall (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Each storey has a separate body stone and roof stone, carved to imitate the details of a timber pagoda.
A report by the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties says that in 1970 only the stones up to the second roof stood in place, the upper parts lying scattered nearby; that year the pagoda was taken apart and reassembled to a height of 6.78 metres. The fourth and fifth body stones, the fifth roof stone and the finial were supplied at that time.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
As a large stone pagoda of the early Muromachi period, it was designated an Important Cultural Property on May 21, 1974 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
What to Look For
Look at how each body stone and roof stone is carved to copy the details of a timber pagoda (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
According to the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, the pagoda was damaged in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024: part of the replacement finial broke and the stones from the third storey up are slightly twisted. No official information on visiting was found.
Q&A
- When was the Myosenji stone pagoda made?
- In the early Muromachi period, between 1333 and 1392 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How tall is the Myosenji stone pagoda?
- About 6.68 metres per the Agency, 6.78 metres per the 1970 restoration.
- Was the pagoda damaged in the 2024 Noto earthquake?
- Yes, part of the finial broke and the upper stones twisted slightly.
- How is Myosenji pronounced?
- Myo-sen-ji; the Agency reads it "myosenji".
- When was the Myosenji Temple Stone Five-Storied Pagoda designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On May 21, 1974 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Myosenji Temple Stone Five-Storied Pagoda (明泉寺五重塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | Anamizu Town, Hosu District, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1974/05/21 (Showa 49) |
| Quantity | 1 pagoda (with 1 former first-storey wall stone) |
| Dimensions | Stone five-storied pagoda, about 6.68 m tall |
| Owner | Myosenji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information (damaged in the 2024 earthquake) |
References
- Myosenji Temple Stone Five-Storied Pagoda (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/816
- 3D survey of the stones of the Myosenji pagoda (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Hozon Kagaku 65, Japanese)
- https://www.tobunken.go.jp/ccr/pdf/65/6509.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.16