Five-storied Pagoda, Haguro-san, National Treasure pagoda in Mount Haguro, Japan.
The Five-storied Pagoda of Haguro-san is a 29.2-metre wooden tower with five levels, its roofs covered in cedar shingles and its walls left unpainted, weathered grey-brown. Small rectangular openings and white plastered panels sit between the broad, gently sloping roofs, and a tall ridged finial rises from the top. Stone steps and a low plinth form the base.
The pagoda first appeared between 931 and 937 during the Heian period as part of a Buddhist temple on Haguro. After a fire the current structure was built in 1369 during the Nanboku period and now ranks among the National Treasures of Japan.
The pagoda is a subsidiary shrine (setsumatsusha) of Dewa Sanzan Shrine, called Chiyorisha, and since the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the Meiji era it has enshrined Ōkuninushi no Mikoto instead of the Buddhist figures once kept inside. Near it stands the 1,000-year-old cedar known as Jizōsugi, about 10 meters around.
You can reach the pagoda by traveling to the Haguro Zuishinmon mae stop and then walking down the stone steps of the mountain. The path leads through dense forest and turns slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The central pillar of the structure hangs freely from the top floor to just above the ground, without touching the lower floors directly. This design dampens shocks from earthquakes and wind and has protected the wooden frame for over 650 years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,471 contributors worldwide.
