A Stone Pagoda Inscribed in 1230
The Thirteen-Storey Stone Pagoda (十三重塔) is a stone pagoda of thirteen storeys of 1230 in Uyanagimotomachi, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on January 23, 1933 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a thirteen-storey stone pagoda, now reduced to eleven storeys; designation number 00920.
The 1933 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
A Pagoda Dated by Its Inscription
This stone pagoda in Uyanagimotomachi, Yatsushiro, dates from the early Kamakura period and bears an inscription of the eleventh month of 1230 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Built with thirteen storeys, it now has eleven.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency's record has no commentary; the inscription of 1230 and the form of a thirteen-storey stone pagoda set out what was designated. It is an early Kamakura stone tower that carries its own date.
What to Look For
Look for the dated inscription and the eleven surviving stone roofs (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Kumamoto earthquake of July 28, 2026 brought down buildings across the Yatsushiro plain (Weathernews), and many cultural properties in Yatsushiro were damaged (Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun). No official information was found on the condition of this pagoda after the earthquake or on visiting.
Q&A
- When was the pagoda built?
- It is inscribed with a date in 1230 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Why does it have only eleven storeys?
- It was built with thirteen and now has eleven.
- What is it made of?
- Stone.
- Was it affected by the 2026 earthquake?
- Its condition after the earthquake could not be confirmed from official sources.
- When was the Thirteen-Storey Stone Pagoda designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On January 23, 1933 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Thirteen-Storey Stone Pagoda (十三重塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | 5642 Uyanagimotomachi, Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1933/01/23 (Showa 8) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Thirteen-storey stone pagoda (now eleven storeys) |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency database |
| Public Access | Condition after the 2026 earthquake unconfirmed |
References
- Thirteen-Storey Stone Pagoda (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3564
- 2026 Kumamoto earthquake: damage in Yatsushiro, Hikawa, Uki and elsewhere (Weathernews, July 28, 2026, Japanese)
- https://weathernews.jp/news/202607/280351/
- Cultural properties of Yatsushiro damaged (Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, August 6, 2026, Japanese)
- https://kumanichi.com/articles/2021736
Last verified: 2026.10.21