5 Tallest Pagodas in Kyoto

The Five-Storied Pagoda you see today was built in 1644, but the original structure is dating back to 826. It was 4 times destroyed by fire and this is the 5th generation of that structure. The wooden pagoda, a National Treasure, is with a height of 57 meters the tallest in Japan. This amazing building is part of the Toji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

Address: 1 Kujocho, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8473

Yasaka Pagoda (Yasaka-no-to) is with a height of 46m the most prominent landmark sign and symbol of the Higashiyama District in Kyoto. The five-story pagoda with the temple treasure (Yasakato-ezu), a designated Important Cultural Property, belongs to the last remaining parts of the Hokanji Temple. The existing structure was rebuilt in 1440 by the 6th Shogun of Muromachi government Yoshinori Ashikaga (1394 - 1441).

Address: 388 Yasakakamimachi, Kiyomizu Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0862

The five-story pagoda of the Daigoji Temple has a height of 38 meters. Its top (Sorin) alone has a height of 13 meters. It is the oldest wooden building in Kyoto and the only structure that survived the damage to the Daigoji Temple during wars and fires. The construction phase started by the order of Emperor Suzaku (921 – 952) in 936 and was finished in 951. Goju-no-to was dedicated as a resting place for the soul of Emperor Daigo (885 – 930). It is not open to the public.

Address: 22 Higashioji-cho, Daigo, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 601-1325

The height of this beautiful five-story pagoda is 36,18m. This important cultural property was built during the Edo Period in 1637 and is part of the Ninnaji Temple. What makes the structure of the pagoda so special is that the width of each story is almost the same. To make the pagoda resistant to earthquakes one main pillar (shinbashira) was used throughout the whole structure. The walls and pillars are decorated with paintings of Buddhist images.

Address: 33 Omuro-ouchi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8092

The Koyasu Pagoda has a height of 30m and is part of the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple complex. Koyasu means "an easy childbirth". It is said that when a pregnant woman reaches the red-coloured three-storied pagoda the baby will arrive safely. The pagoda was rebuilt in 1500 and moved to its current location in 1911.

Address: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862

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