Kunitsu Shrine 13-Story Pagoda

Kunitsu Shrine Thirteen-Story Stone Pagoda: A Kamakura-Period Masterpiece in the Mountains of Mie

Deep in the mountainous Misugi district of Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, the village of Tarou nestles quietly among forested ridges and clear streams. Here, within the grounds of Kunitsu Shrine, stands a remarkable thirteen-story stone pagoda—a nationally designated Important Cultural Property that has endured for over seven centuries. Rising gracefully from the shrine precinct, this compact yet beautifully proportioned stone tower is one of the finest examples of late Kamakura-period stone craftsmanship in all of Japan, and a testament to the rich artistic heritage of the Misugi area, long celebrated as a treasure house of stone art.

Historical Background

Kunitsu Shrine traces its origins to the year Genbun 1 (1736), when a branch spirit from the great Izumo Taisha was ceremonially invited and enshrined here. The shrine came to be known as Kunitsu Daimyōjin, and was also called Sanja-no-Miya (Shrine of Three Deities). However, the thirteen-story stone pagoda predates the shrine's current establishment by several centuries.

The pagoda was originally located at the Sannō Gongen-sha sanctuary in front of Nichijin Fudō Hall in the Tarou area. In 1907 (Meiji 40), during the government-directed consolidation of shrines, the Sannō-sha was merged into Kunitsu Shrine, and the pagoda was carefully relocated to its present site within the shrine grounds. Despite this relocation, the pagoda retains its original Kamakura-period form and artistic integrity, standing today as a precious link to the medieval Buddhist sculptural traditions of this region.

The village of Tarou itself, although now administratively part of Tsu City following municipal mergers, historically belonged to the cultural sphere of the Nara region. Geographically situated along the upper reaches of the Nabari River—a tributary of the Kizu River—the area maintained closer ties to Nabari and the Yamato province than to the Ise lowlands. This cultural crossroads position helped foster the flourishing stone art tradition for which the Misugi area is renowned.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The Kunitsu Shrine Thirteen-Story Stone Pagoda was designated a national Important Cultural Property on April 19, 1926 (Taishō 15). Several factors contributed to this recognition.

First, the pagoda exhibits outstanding formal beauty. Although relatively compact in size at a total height of approximately 3.3 meters, the tower possesses an exceptionally well-proportioned silhouette. The thirteen roof tiers feature thick eaves with powerful, elegant upward curves (nokizori) that are characteristic of Kamakura-period stone architecture at its finest.

Second, the shaft (tōshin) bears sculptural reliefs of exceptional quality. Each of the four faces displays a different Buddha figure from the Exoteric Buddhist tradition (Kenkyō Shibutsu): Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha) on the east face, Amida Nyorai (Amitābha) on the west, Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni) on the north, and Miroku Nyorai (Maitreya) on the south. These half-relief carvings within boat-shaped niches demonstrate refined sculptural skill.

Third, the pagoda is crafted from Ōbora-ishi, a locally quarried welded tuff stone that is characteristic of this region's stone monuments. The skillful use of this regional material connects the pagoda to a broader tradition of stone art across the Misugi area. Within this region, celebrated as a treasure house of stone sculpture, the Kunitsu Shrine pagoda is recognized as an especially outstanding work.

Architectural and Artistic Highlights

The pagoda follows the classic form of a Japanese stone thirteen-story tower (jūsanjū-no-tō). From the base upward, the structure consists of a foundation stone, a shaft bearing the four Buddha images, thirteen successively smaller roof tiers, and a finial (sōrin) at the summit. The current finial is believed to be a later replacement, but the remainder of the structure preserves its original Kamakura-period form.

The roof tiers deserve particular attention. Their eaves are notably thick, and the underside of each tier features a single row of carved rafter marks (taruki-gata), a refined decorative detail. The upward curve at the edges of each roof tier is bold and dynamic, giving the whole tower a sense of dignified energy despite its modest scale.

The four Buddha reliefs on the shaft are carved in half-relief within recessed boat-shaped aureoles. The western face—considered the front—displays Amida Nyorai in the jōbon-geshō mudra (the meditation gesture of the uppermost grade, lower birth). The style of these carvings shows strong similarities to other medieval stone Buddhas in the Tarou area, particularly the Amida figure at the Nichijin cemetery, suggesting the work of local master stone carvers working within a shared regional tradition.

Adjacent to the pagoda stands an Amida seed-syllable natural stone stele (shushi hi), another distinctive piece of Misugi stone art. This stele, carved from Ōbora stone approximately 1.5 meters tall, features a triangular base in line engraving topped by a lotus seat and moon disk, with the Amida seed syllable "Kirīku" carved prominently within—a design unique to this region.

Visitor Information

Kunitsu Shrine is located in the heart of the Tarou village and is freely accessible to visitors at all times. There is no admission fee. The shrine grounds are compact, and the pagoda and ancient zelkova tree can be viewed within a short visit, though the peaceful atmosphere invites lingering exploration.

The shrine can be reached by taking the JR Meishō Line to Ise-Okutsu Station, then transferring to a Mie Kōtsū bus bound for Nabari and alighting at the Mizuho stop after approximately 30 minutes. By car, the shrine is about 20 kilometers south of Nabari city center along National Route 368. Parking is available in the vicinity of the shrine.

The mountainous Misugi area is best visited during the mild seasons of spring and autumn. Spring brings cherry blossoms to the famous Mitake avenue and fresh greenery to the surrounding forests, while autumn offers stunning foliage along the valleys and mountain slopes. Visitors should be prepared for narrow mountain roads and limited public transportation schedules in this rural area.

Surrounding Attractions

The Misugi area of Tsu City offers a wealth of cultural and natural attractions that pair beautifully with a visit to Kunitsu Shrine.

Within the shrine grounds themselves, the magnificent Kunitsu Shrine Zelkova Tree is designated a Mie Prefecture Natural Monument. This ancient giant, with an estimated age of over 800 years, has a root circumference of 19.6 meters, a height of 30 meters, and a trunk circumference of approximately 7 meters at chest height. Its canopy spreads about 25 meters east to west and 16 meters north to south.

The nearby Mitake Cherry Blossoms (三多気の桜), a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Sites, features a 1.5-kilometer avenue of approximately 500 mountain cherry trees leading to the Shinpukuin temple. The blossoms are typically at their peak from mid to late April.

Kitabatake Shrine, about 10 kilometers to the east, enshrines the Kitabatake clan—the medieval Ise Provincial Governors—and features a splendid warrior-class garden from the Muromachi period, designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Historic Site. The Tsu City Misugi Furusato Museum nearby offers insights into the region's history along the old Ise Honjō road.

Nature enthusiasts can explore the Forest Therapy trails certified around Ōbora Mountain, the Mitsumata (paperbush) colony that blooms golden in March, or enjoy camping and stargazing at Skyland Ōbora. The Michi-no-Eki Misugi roadside station offers local crafts and Misugi cedar products along with regional cuisine featuring river fish such as amago trout.