Aizu Sazaedo (Entsu Sanpodo)
Aizu Sazaedo is a 16.5 meter high, three-storied, hexagonal Buddhist pagoda built in 1796 on Mount Iimori in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Officially named Entsu Sanpodo (meaning "the temple of three turns around"), it was constructed by Ikudo, a priest of Shosoji temple. The structure is commonly known as "Sazae-do" because its unique shape resembles a turban shell (sazae in Japanese).
As one of the oldest wooden structures of its kind, Aizu Sazaedo has been designated an Important Cultural Property. It remains the only known temple in Japan with this distinctive double-helix architectural design, comparable only to the staircase at Château de Chambord in France, which is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The ingenious construction ensures that visitors ascending the spiral pathway will never encounter those descending, creating a unique one-way pilgrimage experience.
Historically, the temple housed the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon Statues along its spiral slope, allowing pilgrims to complete a spiritual journey by walking the double-helix path. Built using traditional Japanese woodwork techniques, the structure creaks audibly as visitors make their spiraling journey, adding to the atmospheric experience. The temple stands as a testament to the architectural innovation and religious devotion of the Edo period.
Visitors experience the temple by walking up the inner spiral ramp, which winds through the three floors before descending via a separate pathway. From the outside, the pagoda-like structure appears conventional, but the interior reveals its remarkable double-spiral stairway system that gives the temple its sea-snail shell appearance. The journey through the temple takes approximately 15-20 minutes and offers views of the surrounding Aizuwakamatsu area from various levels.
Admission costs ¥400 for adults, ¥300 for high school and university students, and ¥200 for elementary and junior high school students. The temple can be reached by taking a local bus from Aizuwakamatsu to Iimoriyamashita stop, followed by a 5-minute walk. Parking and restroom facilities are available on-site. The temple is located at the midway point of Iimori Hill, historically significant as the site where the Byakkotai samurai corps committed ritual suicide during the Boshin War.
