A Two-Story Bell Tower Between Two Halls
Toshoji Temple Bell Tower (洞松寺鐘楼, Tōshō-ji Shōrō) is a two-story wooden belfry at Toshoji, a Soto Zen monastery in Yakage, Okayama Prefecture, built in 1838 and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011. It stands where the main hall meets the guest monks' lodging, 5.3 meters by 4.0 meters with a building area of 18 square meters. The neighboring Zen Hall went up in the same year.
Two Roofs Turned at Right Angles
The lower story has a simple two-sided roof in Sangawara-buki pantiles. On top of it sits a square upper story under a hip-and-gable Irimoya-zukuri roof in heavy Hongawarabuki tile, with its ridge turned 90 degrees to the ridge below. That crossing of the two roofs is the structural idea of the whole building.
The decoration is concentrated upstairs. The walls open in pointed Katōmado windows of the kind Zen temples favor, a veranda with a Kōran railing runs around the outside, the tie beams at the tops of the posts are carved with swirling scrolls, and the gable walls are finished in diagonal lattice. The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles the tower out for its showy design.
The lower story does the practical work of sitting between two big buildings; the upper story takes all the ornament and rises clear of them. The division is clean and deliberate.
What to Look For
Look toward the east end of the main hall from the courtyard and you will see only the upper story of Toshoji Temple Bell Tower, rising between the main hall roof and the Zen Hall roof. The curved windows and lattice gables are easiest to read from a little distance, at an angle.
The crossed ridges show better from the side than from the front. Once you have found them, look for the scroll carving on the tie beams; the detail reads best in early morning or late afternoon, when the light rakes across it.
Visiting the Bell Tower
The exterior can be viewed freely from the courtyard. The upper story is not meant for visitors. The tower adjoins the main hall and the monks' lodging, so keep your voice down nearby. Keep photography to the exterior.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Toshoji Temple Bell Tower
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- When was Toshoji Temple Bell Tower built?
- In 1838, the same year as the adjoining Zen Hall. It was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011.
- What should I look for at Toshoji Temple Bell Tower?
- The upper story: pointed katōmado windows, a railed veranda, carved scrolls on the tie beams and lattice gables, all set on a roof whose ridge crosses the lower roof at right angles.
- Can visitors climb Toshoji Temple Bell Tower?
- No. The upper story is not open to visitors, but the exterior can be viewed freely from the courtyard.
- How big is Toshoji Temple Bell Tower?
- It is a two-story wooden tower measuring 5.3 meters by 4.0 meters, with a building area of 18 square meters.
- Where is Toshoji Temple Bell Tower in the precinct?
- Between the east end of the main hall and the guest monks' lodging. From the courtyard, look to the east end of the main hall to see the upper story.
Basic Information
| Name | Toshoji Temple Bell Tower (洞松寺鐘楼) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3796 Funakidani, Yokotani, Yakage-cho, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/7/25 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 5.3 meters by 4.0 meters; building area 18 square meters |
| Owner | Toshoji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the precinct; upper story closed to visitors |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Toshoji Temple Bell Tower
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008768
- Cultural Heritage Online: Toshoji Temple Bell Tower
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/239499
- Yakage Board of Education, Cultural Properties of Yakage: National and registered properties (Toshoji)
- https://bunkazai.yakage-kyouiku.info/shiteibunkazai/nicp
Last verified: 2026.09.24
