Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower at a Glance
Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower (明楽寺太鼓楼, Myōraku-ji Taikorō) is a 2-storey tower in the grounds of a Shin Buddhist temple in Kinomoto, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, built in 1807 and granted Registered Tangible Cultural Property status on August 7, 2023. It stands southwest of the main hall with its front to the north, and went up in the same year as the temple gate.
A drum tower houses a large drum on its upper floor, beaten to mark the hours and call the congregation to services; larger Shin temples often pair one with a bell tower. This one is a timber building under a hip-and-gable Irimoya-zukuri roof of pan tiles, entered at the gable end, with a footprint of 45 square metres.
Why It Was Registered
Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower was registered as a building that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The official commentary praises the lookout-like upper storey for giving the temple complex its distinctive profile. In a precinct of mostly single-storey buildings, it is the most conspicuous structure after the main hall roof, and its top can be seen over the gate from the highway.
The detailing is serious work. The bracketing is a projecting Demitsudo set, with Kaerumata frog-leg struts between the posts, and a single layer of closely spaced rafters. Upstairs, the north and south walls have Katōmado windows with pointed, flame-shaped heads, while the east and west walls are latticed. The lower storey is sheathed in boards that flare outward toward the ground in the skirt-like form called Hakamagoshi.
What to Look For
The front of Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower faces north. Walk in to the area in front of the main hall and turn to look south: the triangular gable of the roof and the flame-headed window beneath it line up squarely in front of you. The katomado shape entered Japanese architecture with Zen Buddhist building styles.
Lower your gaze and the boarded skirt spreads down to the ground. Above, the upper storey is light and open with its lattices and windows; below, the closed boarding gives the tower a stable, tapering outline. A staircase in the northwest corner inside leads up to where the drum hangs.
Compare it with the gate, built the same year. The gate uses the higher-ranking degumi bracketing and a double tier of rafters; the drum tower steps down to demitsudo brackets and a single tier. The builders were clearly grading the two structures by importance.
Visiting Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower
The exterior of Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower can be viewed from the temple grounds. Walk around it to see the north front, the windows and lattices of the upper storey, and the flared skirt below.
The interior and upper floor are not open to the public. The drum is used in temple ceremonies, so please do not touch or strike it. Directions and general visiting conditions are covered on the Myorakuji Temple page.
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Q&A
- When was Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower built?
- It was built in 1807, the same year as the temple gate, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 7, 2023.
- What is Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower used for?
- A drum hangs on the upper floor and is beaten to mark the time and announce services. Larger Shin Buddhist temples often have a drum tower alongside a bell tower.
- What should I look for at Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower?
- The flame-headed katomado windows on the north and south of the upper storey, the lattices on the east and west, and the flared hakamagoshi skirt on the lower storey. Look south from the grounds to see the north front.
- Can I go inside Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower?
- No. The interior and upper floor are not open, but the exterior can be seen from the grounds.
- Where is Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower within the grounds?
- It stands southwest of the main hall with its front to the north, on your right (the south side) as you come through the gate. The bell tower is on the same southwest side.
Basic Information
| Name | Myorakuji Temple Drum Tower (明楽寺太鼓楼) |
|---|---|
| Location | 936 Furumachi, Kinomoto, Kinomoto-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2023/8/7 (Reiwa 5) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2-storey, tiled roof; building area 45 square metres |
| Owner | Myorakuji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the grounds (interior not open) |
References
- Myorakuji Drum Tower, Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00014623
- Myorakuji Drum Tower, Cultural Heritage Online
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/560785
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Council for Cultural Affairs report on new Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings), March 17, 2023
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/93849401.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27
