Ryujoin Temple Bell Tower Gate

A Gate of Concrete and Timber

The Ryujoin Bell Tower Gate (龍乗院鐘楼門) is a two-storey bell gate of concrete below and timber above of 1922 in Higashitaichi, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on July 31, 2007 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a two-storey gate of timber and reinforced concrete with a tiled roof and a building area of 10 square metres, with flanking walls; registration number 33-0157.

Modern Below, Traditional Above

The Ryujoin Bell Tower Gate is a two-storey gate at the top of the stone steps of the hillside precinct (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The lower storey is reinforced concrete in a modern design, faced with granite at the base and white tiles above.

The upper storey is a traditional timber structure two bays by one and a half under a round-tiled hip-and-gable roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that its mixed construction is without parallel in the area, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the contrast between the granite and white-tiled lower storey and the timber upper storey (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Ryujoin Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found. The three registered structures are covered together on the Ryujoin Temple group page.