Rurikoji Temple

Rurikoji Temple (瑠璃光寺, Rurikōji), located in Yamaguchi City, is renowned for its five-storied pagoda, a national treasure built in 1442. This pagoda is one of Japan’s three greatest, alongside the ones at Horyuji Temple and Daigoji Temple. The temple itself, established in the late 1400s, is a historical gem, with beautiful grounds known as Kozan Park. Visitors can explore the main hall, a bell tower, a temple storehouse, and a small museum showcasing models and pictures of pagodas across Japan. The museum offers fascinating insights into the design variations of pagodas, though it has limited English explanations.

Kozan Park also holds the burial site of the Mori family, rulers of the region during the Edo Period. The Uguisubari Stone Pavement, known for its unique sound, leads to the graves. Another park highlight is Chinryutei, a tea house where Saigo Takamori and other key figures planned the Meiji Restoration. Visitors can freely enter Chinryutei and admire its tatami rooms while learning about the revolutionaries who transformed Japan.