A Skirted Bell Tower at the South End
Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower stands at the southern end of the precinct frontage of a Jodo Shinshu Honganji-ha branch temple in Yokkaichi, Usa City, Oita Prefecture, built in the late Edo period between 1830 and 1868 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2016.
It is a two-storey timber structure of three bays by two, with a floor area of 17 square metres and a tiled hip-and-gable roof. The lower storey is boarded over in a flared skirt, the form Japanese carpenters call hakamagoshi.
That skirt gives the building a tapering, trapezoidal outline. Seen from a distance, Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower reads as broader and steadier at the base than it really is, and the belfry above appears to rest lightly on top of it.
Brackets Doing the Work Twice
The structural interest is in the bracketing. On the lower storey, two-tiered bracket complexes push outward to carry the railed balcony that runs around the upper level. Stand directly beneath and you can see the arms stepping out in two stages, holding the balcony clear of the posts below.
Above, round columns with tapered heads are tied together by a horizontal beam and a bearing plate, and the same two-tiered bracketing supports the eaves. Repeating the device on both levels keeps the rhythm consistent as the eye travels up Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower.
The building was listed under the criterion for structures that contribute to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes specifically that it forms the frontage of a Shinshu temple together with the drum tower at the north end.
Compare It With the Drum Tower
The tower becomes more interesting when read as half of a pair. The two buildings split the same job between them, one at each end of the frontage, and yet nothing about their materials matches. Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower is timber left visible, so its face is all shadow and bracket. The drum tower is encased in white lime plaster.
Stop just inside the Main Gate and look south, then north. The contrast is immediate. Symmetry of position, deliberate difference of surface.
For close looking, get underneath the lower storey. The stacked bracket arms below the balcony vanish into shadow from any distance.
Visiting Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower
Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower is an outdoor structure within the precinct and its exterior can be seen at any time during opening hours. The upper storey cannot be climbed and the interior is closed.
The bell is rung only for services; this is not a temple where visitors may sound it themselves. If you want to hear it, check the calendar of observances. Photographing the exterior is unrestricted.
Opening hours and directions for the precinct are given on the Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower
- [ Beppu Hell Tour & Yufuin Onsen Hot Springs ]
Questions and Answers
- When was Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower built?
- In the late Edo period, between 1830 and 1868.
- How is Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower built?
- A two-storey timber structure of three bays by two, 17 square metres in area, with a boarded flared skirt at the base and a tiled hip-and-gable roof.
- Can visitors ring the bell at Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower?
- No. The bell is sounded only during services.
- How does Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower differ from the drum tower?
- The bell tower stands at the south end of the frontage and is exposed timber; the drum tower stands at the north end and is plaster-encased. They are a pair, but deliberately unalike.
- Is Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower a cultural property?
- Yes. It became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 February 2016, listed for its contribution to the historic landscape.
Basic Information
| Name | Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower |
|---|---|
| Location | 1410-1 Yokkaichi, Usa City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 25 February 2016 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Floor area 17 square metres, three bays by two |
| Owner | Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the precinct; upper storey and interior closed |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database: Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin Bell Tower
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011024
- Usa City: List of Designated and Registered Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.usa.oita.jp/sougo/soshiki/18/shakaikyoiku/3/bunkazai/2149.html
- Usa City: Higashi and Nishi Honganji Yokkaichi Betsuin
- https://www.city.usa.oita.jp/tourist/touristspot/touristspot2/touristspot3/10183.html
- Oita Prefecture: List of Nationally Designated and Selected Cultural Properties
- https://www.pref.oita.jp/kyoiku/tmp/bunka/post-101/1.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.13
