Five-storied Pagoda, Rurikō-ji, Five-storied pagoda and National Treasure in Yamaguchi, Japan
The Five-storied Pagoda, Rurikō-ji is a wooden religious tower located in Kōzan Park in Yamaguchi, designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The five tiers narrow as they rise, each level topped by a gently curving roof, and the whole structure is crowned by a metal finial known as a sōrin.
The pagoda was built around 1442 under the Ōuchi clan, one of the most powerful ruling families in western Japan at the time. It was first constructed as part of a memorial complex for a deceased clan leader, and was later incorporated into the temple grounds of what became Rurikō-ji.
The pagoda draws visitors throughout the year, but spring and autumn bring the most people, who come to sit in the park and watch the cherry blossoms or the turning leaves around it. The setting encourages a slow, quiet kind of visit that feels more personal than a typical sightseeing stop.
The pagoda is within walking distance of central Yamaguchi and sits in a park that is easy to move around in. In the evening, the structure is lit up, so a visit after dark offers a different perspective from a daytime visit.
After nearly 70 years without major work, the pagoda underwent a full restoration in the 2000s in which the roof was completely renewed using traditional materials. Visitors who look closely can spot the contrast between the freshly relaid roof surface and the older timber of the structure below.
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