Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Chugoku Sanyo, San-in 中国地方山陽、山陰 - Rurikoji Gojunodo (Five Storied Pagoda) 瑠璃光寺五重塔

Visited 26.04.2015 (Sun)


Sightseeing taxi tour. Found out about this attractive taxi sightseeing tour package, a collaboration between Yuda Onsen Tourist Association and the local taxi companies, and is specially catered for guests staying in Yuda Onsen. There are two routes to choose from, an hour (2,000 yen/pax) or two hours (3,000 yen/pax) course, both covering places of interest within Yamaguchi city. Selected the latter which included the following attractions:
- Xavier Memorial Church サビエル記念聖堂
- Hanchomon 藩庁門
- Rurikoji and Gojunodo 瑠璃光寺五重塔
- Joeiji Sesshutei 常栄寺雪舟庭
- St Xavier Memorial Monument サビエル公園 
Wanted very much to visit Gojunodo in Rurikoji but was facing some difficulties to slot it into my itinerary. However, with this option made available, I was able to meet my objective and in addition, explore other attractions which I have not thought of originally. Do check out this affordable tour package, especially if you are spending a night in one of the hotels/ryokans in Yuda Onsen.
More information (in Japanese):
http://www.oidemase.or.jp/tourism-information/spots/16761
http://www.yudaonsen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/876e482e7b08cf5c173c751a515d50aa.pdf


National Treasure. The icon of Yamaguchi city, the Gojunodo 五重塔 or five storied pagoda was built around 1442 and is ranked as one of the three most outstanding pagoda in Japan. The entire structure standing at 31.2 m tall is strategically located at the back of a pond in Kozan Koen (the park in Rurikoji) and surrounded by lush greenery, making it such a photogenic structure and beauty to look at in various angles. One of the best photo taking spot recommended by my taxi driver was to stand in front of the pond to capture both the pagoda and its reflection on the surface of the calm waters in the pond.


Background. The five storied pagoda was designated as a National Building in 1903 and was built in commemoration of Lord Ouchi Yoshihiro (大内義弘), a Muromachi period samurai clan head and military leader. The Ouchi clan ruled the castle town of Yamaguchi in the 12th to 14th century and it is said that the Lord Ouchi had a yearning to live in a city that resembled Kyoto and that led to the development/planning of Yamaguchi to look like Kyoto. Was once referred to as "the Kyoto of the West", Yamaguchi was known as a place of peace and prosperity where many court nobles came to to avoid war-torn Kyoto then. The current location where Gojunodo is situated in originally belonged to Koshakuji Temple. The temple shifted its premises to Hagi during the early Edo period and Rurikoji Temple took over its previous site.



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Rurikoji Gojunodo (Five Storied Pagoda) 瑠璃光寺五重塔
〒753-0081 山口県山口市香山町7-1
Operating hours:
Free admission
http://yamaguchi-city.jp/details/aa_ruri_tou.html

How to get there? 

(1) Yamaguchi-shi Community Bus 山口市コミュニティバス.
From the bus stop in front of Yamaguchi JR Station 山口駅, take the Yamaguchi Community Bus Ochi Route (大内ルート) heading for Rurikoji Gojunodo and alight at the last stop.
Website: http://www.city.yamaguchi.lg.jp/soshiki/73/2006.html
Bus schedule: http://www.city.yamaguchi.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/1317.pdf
Bus fare = 200 yen

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