A Stone Pagoda on Chikubushima
The Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda (宝厳寺五重塔, Hogonji gojunoto) is a late Kamakura-period stone pagoda in the precinct of Hogonji on Chikubushima in Lake Biwa, Hayazaki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954. The temple itself calls it the five-tiered stone stupa.
According to the temple's official site, it stands 247 centimetres high and is carved from Komatsu stone quarried in the hills of Shiga District. The precinct also has a three-story pagoda, but this one is a small monument in stone.
Why the Stone Pagoda Matters
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the pagoda to the late Kamakura period, between the late 13th and early 14th centuries. It preserves the form of a medieval stone pagoda well and records in stone the long history of devotion on Chikubushima.
The temple explains that four Buddhas are carved on the body of the first tier, and that each roof above the first is carved in one piece with the shaft of the tier above it, with a finial ring (sorin) on top. The temple describes this form as typical of stone pagodas of the mid-Kamakura period. The Agency's dating (late Kamakura) and the temple's description (mid-Kamakura features) differ slightly; this article follows the Agency.
The five tiers are said to represent the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind and void, according to the official site.
What to Look For
Standing before the Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda, look first at the body of the lowest tier. Buddhas are carved on its four faces, and walking once around the pagoda lets you see all four in turn.
Then count the roofs from the bottom. Because each roof is carved together with the shaft of the tier above, the pagoda reads as five stacked units, each a roof topped by a short block, with the finial rising above them.
At 247 centimetres it is only a little taller than a person, so you can see the stone surface and the depth of the carving at close range. Look also at the curve of the eaves and the weathering of the stone.
Visiting the Stone Pagoda
The Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda stands in the temple precinct on Chikubushima and can be seen on the route around the grounds after landing. Worship hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., matched to the sightseeing boats, according to the official site. No separate fee is listed for the pagoda beyond the island entry fee.
As an outdoor monument, it should not be touched or leaned on. Boats and the island entry fee are covered on the Chikubushima Hogonji Temple page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Shiga
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda
- [ Hikone Castle & Lake Biwa Cruise Experiences ]
Q&A
- Is the Hogonji Temple five-story pagoda a wooden building?
- No. It is a stone pagoda 247 centimetres high, which the temple calls the five-tiered stone stupa. It is separate from the three-story pagoda in the precinct.
- When was the Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda made?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Kamakura period. The temple says its form shows features of mid-Kamakura stone pagodas.
- When was the Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda designated?
- It was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954.
- What should I look for on the Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda?
- The four Buddhas carved on the first tier, the five units each made of a roof and the shaft above it in one stone, and the finial on top. The stone is Komatsu stone from Shiga District.
- Is there a fee to see the Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda?
- No separate fee is listed beyond the island entry fee. Worship hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Basic Information
| Name | Hogonji Temple Stone Five-Story Pagoda (宝厳寺五重塔) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hayazaki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture (Chikubushima) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1954/9/17 (Showa 29) |
| Quantity | 1 pagoda |
| Dimensions | Stone five-story pagoda, height 247 centimetres (per Hogonji) |
| Owner | Hogonji Temple |
| Public Access | Viewable in the precinct; worship hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
References
- 宝厳寺五重塔 (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1524
- Five-tiered stone stupa (Chikubushima Hogonji official site)
- https://www.chikubushima.jp/precincts/precincts6.html
- Exploring Hogonji (Chikubushima Hogonji official site)
- https://www.chikubushima.jp/precincts/
- Access (Chikubushima Hogonji official site)
- https://www.chikubushima.jp/access/
Last verified: 2026.10.03
Last verified: 2026.10.03
