Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda: A Graceful Pagoda of 1621
The Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda (善峯寺多宝塔) is a three-bay tahoto pagoda built in 1621 at Yoshiminedera in Oharano Shiozu-cho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City, and was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1977.
The temple's name is read Yoshiminedera, not Zenpoji. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the pagoda as a three-bay tahoto with a cypress-bark roof. It was designated on 27 June 1977 and belongs to Yoshiminedera.
Why It Is Protected
The agency describes it as a small tahoto with slender members and a light, graceful form overall. The quality of the materials, their good state of preservation and a ridge tag that fixes the date are also cited.
According to a travel magazine, the ridge tag records construction in the third month of 1621, and it is designated together with the pagoda. The Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda is said to be the oldest surviving building at the temple.
What to Look For
A tahoto has a square lower storey and a round upper body under a square roof. This one stands on a stone base, with a railed veranda around the lower storey. The travel magazine gives its height as about 12 metres and its principal image as Aizen Myoo.
The slender proportions show in the posts, brackets and rafters. Step back to take in the whole outline and compare how far the lower and upper roofs project, and you will see what the agency means by light and graceful. The soft curves of the cypress-bark roofs are worth a look too.
Visiting Yoshiminedera
Yoshiminedera is at 1372 Oharano Shiozu-cho, Nishikyo Ward, on the slopes of the Nishiyama hills. According to Kyoto's tourism guide, Hankyu bus route 66 runs to the temple from JR Mukomachi Station and Hankyu Higashi-Muko Station. From January 6 to the end of February the bus terminates lower down at Shiozu, and you walk up from there.
An entry fee is charged for the temple grounds. Hours and fees can change with the season, so check with the temple (075-331-0020). The pagoda is viewed from outside.
Q&A
- How is 善峯寺 pronounced?
- Yoshiminedera.
- When was the Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda built?
- In 1621, as recorded on its ridge tag.
- Why is the Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda an Important Cultural Property?
- For its light, graceful form with slender members, fine and well-preserved materials and a known date. It was designated in 1977.
- How do I get to Yoshiminedera?
- Take Hankyu bus route 66 from JR Mukomachi or Hankyu Higashi-Muko Station; in winter the bus stops at Shiozu.
- Is there an entry fee at Yoshiminedera?
- Yes. Check the current fee with the temple (075-331-0020).
Basic Information
| Name | Yoshiminedera Temple Tahoto Pagoda |
|---|---|
| Location | 1372 Oharano Shiozu-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1977/06/27 (Showa 52) |
| Quantity | 1 pagoda |
| Dimensions | Three-bay tahoto, cypress-bark roof |
| Owner | Yoshiminedera Temple |
| Public Access | Entry fee for the grounds; pagoda viewed from outside |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Yoshiminedera Tahoto Pagoda
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1934
- Tabi-mag: Yoshiminedera Tahoto Pagoda (Japanese)
- https://tabi-mag.jp/ky0722/
- Kyoto City Tourism: Nishiyama area guide (PDF, Japanese)
- https://global.kyoto.travel/resource/global/download/52-pdf.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.27