Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
The Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (石塔寺三重塔) is an early Nara-period stone pagoda on the grounds of Ishidoji Temple in Ishido-cho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, designated on 28 August 1907 and now an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It crowns the hill behind the temple's main hall, and the temple calls it the Ashoka Pagoda (阿育王塔, Ashoka-tō).
It stands about 7.5 meters tall. Blocks of granite are stacked as a base, body stones and roofs, turning the outline of a timber three-storied pagoda into stone. The original finial, the Sōrin, has been lost; the one on top today was added in a later age.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the Ishidō-ji pagoda to the early Nara period, which it gives as 710-793. Unlike a wooden tower, it is solid stone, with no interior space.
Why the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda Matters
Age and size come first. The pagoda is attributed to the early Nara period and is regarded as both the oldest and the largest stone three-storied pagoda in Japan.
Just as important, nothing else in Japan compares with it. According to the Shiga Cultural Properties Protection Association, its details are close to the Jeongnimsa five-storied pagoda and the Mireuksa stone pagoda in the former Baekje region of Korea, and it is seen as a work strongly shaped by Baekje. The hill lies in what was once Gamō-no, where people from Baekje settled after the Battle of Baekgang in 663. That is why historians ask whether those immigrants helped raise it.
The designation came early too. The Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda was listed in 1907 under the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law, the forerunner of today's system, and since the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties took effect in 1950 it has been treated as an Important Cultural Property.
What to Look For at the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
Stop at the top of the steps and take in the silhouette. Each of the three roofs is thick, its upper face swelling gently. The body stones between them are tall and narrow, and there are none of the deep eaves of a wooden tower. The outline is spare, and the weight of the stone comes across even from a distance.
Then walk to the side and look at the lowest story. The two upper body stones are single blocks, but the first story is built from two slabs set side by side, a measure understood to keep the heavy roofs above steady. From the side, the joint between them is easy to find.
The sorin at the top is a later replacement. Compare its surface and weathering with the roofs below and judge for yourself whether the difference shows.
All around the Ishidō-ji pagoda, small five-ring pagodas and stone Buddhas stand shoulder to shoulder, said to number in the tens of thousands, offerings left by later generations. Seeing the Nara-period tower rise above that crowd is as much a part of the visit as the stonework itself.
Visiting the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
The pagoda stands in the open on the hilltop terrace and can be viewed up close during the temple's opening hours. Being solid stone, it has no interior to open to the public. The path winds between small stone monuments, so take care not to touch or lean on any of them.
Do not stop at the front view. The two-slab first story is clearest from the side. We could not find official guidance from the temple on photography, so ask at reception if in doubt. Directions and admission details are on the Ishidoji Temple page.
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Q&A
- When was the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda built, and by whom?
- It is attributed to the early Nara period, and no record names its builders. Because its details resemble stone pagodas of Baekje, scholars suggest that people from Baekje who settled in Gamō-no after the Battle of Baekgang in 663 may have been involved. The story linking it to King Ashoka of India is a temple legend.
- How tall is the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda?
- About 7.5 meters, which is said to make it the largest stone three-storied pagoda in Japan. Published figures differ slightly from source to source.
- Why is the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda called the Ashoka Pagoda?
- Temple tradition holds that the Heian-period monk Jakushō learned that one of the 84,000 stupas King Ashoka scattered across the world lay buried in Ōmi, and that this is the pagoda that was dug up. The temple's mountain name, Ashoka-ōzan, comes from the same legend.
- Is the finial of the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda original?
- No. The original sorin was lost, and the present one was added later. The base, body stones and roofs are attributed to the early Nara period.
- Can visitors see the Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda, and what are the hours and fees?
- Yes. It stands outdoors on the hilltop and can be seen between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the temple's opening hours. Admission is 400 yen for adults and 100 yen for children. There is no interior to visit.
Basic Information
| Name | Ishidoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (Ashoka Pagoda) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ishido-cho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture (Ishidoji Temple grounds) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1907 |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Dimensions | Height about 7.5 meters |
| Owner | Ishidoji Temple |
| Public Access | Outdoors; viewable during opening hours (admission fee required); no interior access |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Ishidoji Three-Storied Pagoda
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1479
- Shiga Cultural Properties Protection Association: Traces of Immigrants, Ishidoji Temple
- https://www.shiga-bunkazai.jp/shigabun-shinbun/best-place-in-shiga/%E6%96%B0%E8%BF%91%E6%B1%9F%E5%90%8D%E6%89%80%E5%9C%96%E7%B5%B5%E7%AC%AC294%E5%9B%9E-%E6%B8%A1%E6%9D%A5%E4%BA%BA%E3%81%AE%E8%B6%B3%E8%B7%A1%EF%BC%8D%E6%9D%B1%E8%BF%91%E6%B1%9F%E5%B8%82%E7%9F%B3/
- Biwako Visitors Bureau (official Shiga tourism site): Ishidoji Temple
- https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/536/
- Higashiomi Tourism Association: Ishidoji Temple
- https://www.higashiomi.net/media/miru/ishidoji
- Japan Stone Center, Ohaka Kiwame: Important Cultural Properties of Shiga, Part 5
- https://ohakakiwame.jp/column/memorial-service/cultural-property-shiga-part5.html
Last verified: 2026.10.06
