What the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda is
The Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda (方広寺三重塔), at Hokoji in the Okuyama district of Inasa-cho, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, was built in 1923 and entered the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 10 September 2019. It faces west from a summit south of the Main Hall, across a small valley.
The pagoda is of timber, roofed with round-and-flat tiles, and covers 11 square metres. Each storey is three bays square. The bracket sets are triple-stepped with projecting tail rafters, and the eaves carry double rows of closely spaced rafters. A gabled ridge gate steps forward from the centre of the rough stone platform, and a board fence encloses the site. Gate and fence are both covered by the registration.
A designer on record
The Agency for Cultural Affairs record names Yasui Narajiro, formerly a technical officer of Kyoto Prefecture, as the designer. Few modern temple buildings in Japan carry an attribution of that kind.
Why the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda was registered
The registration criterion is contribution to the historic landscape of the country, and the registration number is 22-278.
The point of interest is that a classical Japanese-style composition was assembled correctly in the Taisho years. Triple-stepped brackets with tail rafters are the most demanding way to carry eaves outward, and combined with double rows of rafters they produce an even stack of shadows under the roof. On a structure this small, a slight error in proportion would show at once, and the pagoda holds its proportions without a stumble.
The circumstances of its building are recorded too. According to the temple, it was paid for by Yamaguchi Gendo of Kyoto. The story that the donor escaped bankruptcy and afterwards prospered has given the pagoda a following among business people, who come to pray against insolvency.
What to look for at the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
The pagoda is best read from a distance, and the forecourt of the Main Hall gives exactly that. From there the rate at which each storey shrinks as it rises can be judged clearly, which is the measure of a pagoda's proportions.
Once you have climbed to it, look at the base. The platform is built of undressed stone laid at random, and only its central bay steps forward to form the gate. Passing through a gate to reach the tower gives the small Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda the depth of a proper precinct.
Stand directly beneath the eaves and the tail rafters can be seen thrusting out at an angle to carry the eave purlin. An extension was added in the mid-Showa years and repairs followed in 1999, but the design of the tower itself remains as first built.
Visiting the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
The interior of the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda is not open. Viewing is from the outside, though the board fence is low enough that the whole tower stays in view.
Reaching it on foot means descending and climbing again, since it stands on the far side of the valley from the Main Hall. The temple signposts a road that runs up to the foot of the pagoda for visitors who would rather not take the slope.
Because it faces west, afternoon light falls on the front. There are no restrictions on photography. Directions and admission details are given on the Hokoji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda built?
- In 1923. An extension was added in the mid-Showa period and the structure was repaired in 1999.
- Who built the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda?
- The temple records it as a donation by Yamaguchi Gendo of Kyoto. The designer was Yasui Narajiro, formerly a technical officer of Kyoto Prefecture, named in the national database record.
- Why is the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda linked with protection against bankruptcy?
- The story runs that the donor escaped insolvency and afterwards prospered. Business people have prayed at the pagoda for the same protection ever since.
- Can you go inside the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda?
- No, the interior is closed. A board fence rings the site but the tower remains fully visible from outside, and photography is unrestricted.
- What cultural property status does the Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda hold?
- It became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 10 September 2019, registration number 22-278. The gate and fence are included in the registration.
Basic Information
| Name | Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda |
|---|---|
| Location | 1577-1 Okuyama, Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration number 22-278 |
| Year Designated | Registered on 10 September 2019 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber three-storied pagoda, tiled roof, floor area 11 square metres, with gate and fence |
| Owner | Hokoji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewing only; interior closed. Photography permitted |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs: Hokoji Temple Three-Storied Pagoda
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012928
- Daihonzan Hokoji: Grounds guide
- https://www.houkouji.or.jp/guide/
Last verified: 2026.09.17
