My First Visit to To-ji
The Five-Story Pagoda
After visiting Byodo-in and Ujigami Shrine in Uji, I headed to To-ji. It’s famous for its five-story pagoda, but this was my first visit.
The five-story pagoda looked stunning against the clear blue sky and feels like a symbol of Kyoto. It stands about 55 meters tall and is the tallest wooden structure in Japan. It dates to the Edo period.
The ground floor of the five-story pagoda was open to visitors, so I was able to go inside and see it. (Photography was not allowed inside.)
Apparently, the pagoda standing today is the fifth one, rebuilt in 1644, and you can really feel the weight of its history. I was finally able to see this remarkable tower for myself—the one said to have been built with enough flexibility to withstand earthquakes without collapsing.
By chance (?) I was even able to go inside the pagoda, so I was extremely satisfied. Inside, four seated Buddha statues are enshrined.
And Then the Three-Dimensional Mandala, Among Other Things
Next was the Kondo, built in the Momoyama period. Inside are enshrined the Yakushi Triad and the Twelve Heavenly Generals.
Of course, I also visited the Kodo, where the three-dimensional mandala is enshrined. The hall dates to the Muromachi period, and the three-dimensional mandala is expressed through 21 Buddhist statues.
The three-dimensional mandala represents the world of the Secret Adorned Pure Land based on the teachings of Kobo Daishi… but if you’re not sure what that means, please look it up (lol).
I also went to Kanchi-in next to To-ji and saw sights including the karesansui-style garden called "Nehanroku no Niwa."
Photography wasn’t allowed, but I found the Five Great Kokuzo Bosatsu statues—and the bodhisattva figures riding lions and peacocks—unusual and fascinating.
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