A Pagoda of 1497 at Tsubosakadera
The Minami Hokkeji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (南法華寺三重塔) is a three-storied pagoda of 1497 in Tsubosaka, Takatori Town, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 14, 1906 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Minami Hokkeji is better known as Tsubosakadera.
The Agency records a three-bay, three-storied pagoda roofed in hongawara tiles; designation number 00370.
A Muromachi-Period Pagoda
The Minami Hokkeji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda stands in the precinct of Tsubosakadera, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to 1497. Each storey is three bays wide, and the roofs are laid with hongawara tiles (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The worship hall in the same precinct is also an Important Cultural Property, and the Agency judges from its style that the hall was built at about the same time as the pagoda. The ground storey enshrines a seated Dainichi Nyorai, which Nara Prefecture's official tourism site describes as a hidden image.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Minami Hokkeji pagoda, a three-storied pagoda of the late Muromachi period with a known date, was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 14, 1906 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
What to Look For
Nara Prefecture's official tourism site says cherry blossom frames the pagoda in spring. In 2026, from October 10 to December 6, the ground storeys of the pagoda and the temple's tahōtō are opened together, so the hidden Dainichi Nyorai can be seen.
Visiting
The interior opens only during special viewings; the exterior can be seen whenever the precinct is open, and the space before the worship hall gives a close view. Entry to the precinct and access are covered on the Minami Hokkeji page.
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Q&A
- When was the Minami Hokkeji pagoda built?
- In 1497 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I go inside the Minami Hokkeji pagoda?
- Only during special viewings; in 2026 from October 10 to December 6.
- Where is the Minami Hokkeji pagoda?
- In the precinct of Tsubosakadera in Takatori Town, Nara Prefecture.
- Are Minami Hokkeji and Tsubosakadera the same temple?
- Yes. Tsubosakadera is the common name of Minami Hokkeji.
- When was the Minami Hokkeji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 14, 1906 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Minami Hokkeji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (南法華寺三重塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | Tsubosaka, Takatori Town, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1906/04/14 (Meiji 39) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Three bays, three storeys, hongawara tile roof |
| Owner | Minami Hokkeji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior visible in the precinct; ground storey open only at special viewings |
References
- Minami Hokkeji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/2769
- Tsubosakadera (Nara Prefecture official tourism site, Japanese)
- https://yamatoji.nara-kankou.or.jp/01shaji/02tera/03east_area/tsubosakadera/
Last verified: 2026.10.15
