A Five-Story Pagoda Set Amid Rural Scenery
The five-story pagoda at Bitchū Kokubunji is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Kibiji region. Standing amid expansive farmland, it is the only five-story pagoda in Okayama Prefecture and attracts visitors throughout the year. The surrounding countryside changes with the seasons, creating especially beautiful views in spring, when rapeseed flowers bloom, and during other seasons when sunflowers and lotus flowers bring color to the fields.
The Temple’s Foundation and Reconstruction
Bitchū Kokubunji traces its origins to the Nara period, when Emperor Shōmu ordered provincial temples to be established across Japan. These temples were intended to use Buddhist prayers to protect the country from natural disasters, famine, and other calamities. The original temple was destroyed by fire during the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392), and it was not until the middle of the Edo period that the temple was rebuilt.
The present temple was reconstructed on the site of the original complex in 1722, during the Kyōhō era, under the name Nisshōzan Kokubunji. Its buildings preserve the character of traditional Buddhist temple architecture from the Edo period.
The Five-Story Pagoda
The temple’s five-story pagoda stands 34.315 meters tall and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Construction began in 1821, during the fourth year of the Bunsei era, and the pagoda was completed during the Kōka era (1844–1847). It was initially planned as a three-story pagoda, but the design was changed to five stories during reconstruction.
Keyaki zelkova timber was used primarily for the first through third stories, while pine was mainly used for the fourth and fifth stories. The pagoda is a fine example of late Edo-period architecture. It was designated an Important Cultural Property on December 18, 1980.
Inside the Pagoda
The first story contains a Buddhist altar, with statues of four Buddhas—Shakyamuni, Amitābha, Ratnasambhava, and Akshobhya—arranged around the central pillar. The ceiling is decorated with colorful paintings of celestial maidens, flowers, and birds by Haruatsu Yokoyama, an artist from the Bizen Osafune area.
The paintings were executed on cedar boards, and the ceiling incorporates a single zelkova plank measuring 55 centimeters square. In total, 104 panels depict floral patterns and celestial figures, enhancing the solemn and richly decorated atmosphere inside the pagoda.
The Ruins of the Original Bitchū Kokubunji
The ruins of the original Bitchū Kokubunji lie in Sōja City, overlapping the grounds of the present-day temple. Established by imperial order in 741, the 13th year of the Tenpyō era, the temple was part of Emperor Shōmu’s nationwide initiative to protect the state through Buddhism. The original precincts measured approximately 160 meters from east to west and 178 meters from north to south, although some estimates give a north–south dimension of 180 meters.
Archaeological finds, including pottery, suggest that the original temple remained in use until the early medieval period. Although the provincial government office was located in Kayo District, the temple itself stood in Kuboya District. Many original foundation stones remain, offering clues to the scale and layout of the ancient complex.
The ruins were designated a National Historic Site on February 15, 1968. Because the present temple was rebuilt on the same grounds during the Edo period, the locations of some original buildings remain uncertain. Excavations have nevertheless helped clarify the temple’s boundaries and the positions of its southern and central gates.
Archaeological Excavations and the Temple Layout
An archaeological investigation conducted by Okayama Prefecture in 1971 revealed more about the layout of the original temple precincts. The grounds were enclosed by an earthen wall with a base approximately one meter wide. Excavations uncovered the remains of the south gate and central gate, along with roof tiles, ridge-end ornaments, and decorative roof tiles bearing demon faces. These artifacts provide valuable evidence of the temple’s appearance during the Nara period.
The original complex is believed to have included a south gate measuring five bays wide and two bays deep, and a central gate of similar depth but greater scale. A large well was located between the two gates. Historical reconstructions suggest that the complex may also have contained a seven-story pagoda approximately 50 meters tall, while the precise locations and dimensions of the main hall and lecture hall remain unclear.
The Ruins of Bitchū Kokubunniji Temple
The ruins of Bitchū Kokubunniji Temple, the convent established for Buddhist nuns, lie approximately 600 meters east of Bitchū Kokubunji. The convent was founded in 741 by imperial order under Emperor Shōmu. Its precincts extended approximately 108 meters from east to west and 216 meters from north to south.
The south gate, central gate, main hall, and lecture hall were arranged along a north–south axis. The main hall was a substantial building measuring approximately 21 meters along its front and 13.2 meters in depth. Numerous foundation stones remain in orderly rows on its broad platform, giving visitors a sense of the scale of the original structure. The ruins were designated a National Historic Site on October 12, 1922.
Cultural Heritage Designations
National Important Cultural Property: The five-story pagoda was designated on December 18, 1980.
National Historic Sites: The ruins of Bitchū Kokubunji were designated on February 15, 1968, and the ruins of Bitchū Kokubunniji were designated on October 12, 1922.
Okayama Prefecture Cultural Properties: The buildings associated with the ruins of Bitchū Kokubunji were designated on May 31, 1974. A standing wooden statue of Jizō Bodhisattva was designated on July 19, 1955.
Visiting Bitchū Kokubunji Today
Today, Bitchū Kokubunji is valued both as a historic Buddhist temple and as a highlight of the Kibiji countryside. Its five-story pagoda, framed by fields and seasonal flowers, creates one of the region’s most memorable landscapes. The area is also popular with cyclists, who can explore the rural scenery and nearby historic sites along the Kibiji cycling routes.
With its surviving pagoda, archaeological remains, and neighboring convent ruins, Bitchū Kokubunji offers a rewarding opportunity to discover the religious history and cultural heritage of ancient Japan.