The Japanese pagoda evolved from the Buddhist stupa, and some pagodas still use architectural elements borrowed from the stupa, like this tahōtō pagoda of Chion-in, in Higashiyama, Kyoto.

Above the first roof there’s a mound-like structure called kamebara ("tortoise belly"), finished with white plaster. If we ignore the covering, the remaining architecture is actually a stupa, protected against weather by the roof…

Chion-in, Higashiyama, Kyoto

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese samurai armor, Naga Eboshi Kabuto