A Bell Tower That Was Once a Gate
The Zentsuji Bell Tower (善通寺鐘楼) is a two-storey timber bell tower of the late Edo period, standing south-west of the Main Hall in the eastern precinct (Garan) of Zentsuji at Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 2, 2009 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey timber structure with a tiled roof and a building area of 23 square metres, registration number 37-0331.
The Eastern Precinct of Zentsuji
According to Zentsuji, its precinct of about 45,000 square metres is divided into the eastern Garan, lined with the Main Hall and Five-Storied Pagoda, and the western Tanjoin centred on the Founder's Hall. The eastern precinct is the temple's original ground, said to have been founded by Kukai in 807 after his return from China.
The temple records that the original halls burned in 1558 and were rebuilt with the support of the Ikoma and Kyogoku lords of Sanuki and others. Six structures of the eastern precinct, the Shakado Hall, bell tower, Minami-daimon and Nakamon gates, and Tenjin and Ryuo shrines, were registered on November 2, 2009 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Value as a Registered Cultural Property
The Zentsuji Bell Tower was registered as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it keeps traces of having once been a bell gate, and that it enhances the scenery of the precinct.
What to Look For
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes a three-by-two-bay tower with a skirt-like lower wall and a hip-and-gable roof of hongawara tiles; inserted brackets and three-part bearing blocks on tie beams carry a balcony with a railing topped by onion-shaped finials.
The upper storey of the Zentsuji Bell Tower has simple three-part bracketing and fan-shaped rafters under fully curved eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
According to Zentsuji, the precinct is open all year; the Main Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the stamp office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitors' car park, west of the precinct, holds up to 350 vehicles.
The Zentsuji Bell Tower is at 3-622 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City. Zentsuji is Temple 75 of the Shikoku pilgrimage (Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association), and its precinct is part of the Sanuki Pilgrimage Route National Historic Site (Zentsuji). The six registered structures of the eastern precinct are gathered on the group page Zentsuji Garan (Eastern Precinct), and the 19 of the western precinct on Zentsuji Tanjoin Temple.
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Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of building is it?
- A three-by-two-bay bell tower with a skirt wall and hip-and-gable tiled roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it originally?
- It keeps traces of having been a bell gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can visitors see it?
- Yes, the precinct is open all year (Zentsuji).
- When was the Zentsuji Bell Tower registered?
- On November 2, 2009.
Basic Information
| Name | Zentsuji Bell Tower (善通寺鐘楼) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-622 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/11/02 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 23 square metres |
| Owner | Zentsuji (per the Zentsuji City list) |
| Public Access | Precinct open all year; Main Hall open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
References
- Zentsuji Bell Tower (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007931
- History (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/yuisho/
- Precinct (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/keidai/
- Opening Hours and Fees (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/%e6%8b%9d%e8%a6%b3%e6%99%82%e9%96%93%e3%83%bb%e6%96%99%e9%87%91/
- Zentsuji Temple (Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association)
- https://www.my-kagawa.jp/point/332/
Last verified: 2026.10.12
