Long in the past, the pagoda was the most sacred and important building of a Japanese Buddhist temple, because in the pagoda were enshrined relics of Buddha. In time, their role was diminished, now the most important place is the main hall, which houses the main object of worship, and only some Buddhist sects still build a pagoda inside the temple grounds.

For me, from a strictly aesthetic (or photographic) perspective, the pagoda is the most beautiful part of a temple, especially those with 5 storeys, gojū-no-tō, like the one photographed here inside the Takahata Fudo Temple, in Hino, Tokyo.

Pagoda, Takahata Fudo Temple (Kongo-ji), Hino, Tokyo

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Cross section view of the original Kumamoto castle