Kiyomizudera Three-Story Pagoda

The Three-Story Pagoda at Kiyomizudera stands at an impressive height of approximately 31 meters (about 101 feet). It is one of the tallest and most visually striking pagodas in Kyoto. The structure dominates the hillside leading up to the temple's main hall.

The current pagoda structure was rebuilt in 1632, during the early Edo period. It was commissioned under the direction of the third Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, as part of a massive restoration of the temple complex. It has survived largely intact through the centuries since its reconstruction.

The pagoda is prominently situated at the base of the iconic stone steps that lead up to the main hall of Kiyomizudera in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. Visitors pass directly by it when entering the UNESCO World Heritage site. Its brilliant vermilion color contrasts beautifully with the surrounding green trees.

The pagoda is constructed in a traditional Japanese style with a tiled, flared hip-and-gable roof on each of its three levels. The exterior is painted in a striking vermilion red, a color deeply associated with Buddhist temple architecture in Japan. The eaves curve elegantly upwards, giving the heavy wooden structure a sense of lightness.