Chūrei-tō Pagoda, Five-story memorial pagoda in Fujiyoshida, Japan
Chūrei-tō is a five-story tower with distinctive red and white coloring, built from stone and wood on a forested slope above the city. The structure forms part of a larger shrine complex and offers sweeping views across the valley from its elevated position.
The tower was built in 1963 as a memorial to citizens who died during conflicts spanning from the 1850s through World War II. The structure marks a connection between local and national history.
The shrine complex honors mountain worship traditions, and visitors often leave offerings and prayers at various points along the path. The site embodies Japanese reverence for ancestors and spiritual reflection.
Visitors need to climb roughly 400 stone steps from the shrine base to reach the tower, a walk that takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Access is free and available 24 hours, though clear weather offers better views.
Spring brings cherry blossoms around the structure while autumn displays red maple leaves, both framing the distant mountain naturally for photographs. Many visitors time their trips to these seasons specifically to capture these seasonal visual combinations.
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