What other travelers are saying about Aizu Sazaedo (Entsu Sanpodo)
Sazae Temple is a quiet and very unique temple in the Aizu area, and well worth a short visit if you are interested in history and architecture. The wooden hall was built in 1796 and features a rare double helix structure inside, with a spiral staircase that takes you up and around in a continuous loop. Walking through it feels unlike any other temple experience.
The interior walls and ceilings are covered with name tags and wooden plaques left by pilgrims over the centuries. This gives the whole space a very personal and spiritual feeling, as if it is filled with stories, prayers, and memories from generations past. It is simple, but deeply atmospheric.
The temple is surrounded by tall trees and close to a river, which adds to the sense of peace and seclusion. It is not a large or crowded site, which makes it a nice contrast to busier tourist spots. A very calming place to pause, reflect, and appreciate a different side of Japanese temple culture.
Sazae is turban shell in English. The building looks like it. We visited here as we heard the building has a very special style. It was fairly crowded. The entrance fee is 400 yen. It's worthwhile to go in to it. There's no steps but a gradual slope to the top. There are a dome covered with mysterious stickers. It's worth to visit.
It was quite different from other temples. Because people walk up one way, and one-way down, no crossing each other when walking on the staircase.
There are quite a lot of school kids during werkdays. Be prepared to wait for a big group of students. There are no stamps to collect at this temple.
Date of enjoyment: 11/4/25
There’s a charge to go enter the temple but well worth it, the architecture and design is simply breath taking. This is an all wooden structure every step has a squeak in the wooden structure and the helix spiral separates the direction of heading so that people going up will not see the people heading down. The centre beam is also exposed and showing the amazing engineering that when wood is well used can withhold so much weight.
Allow a good 45mins here as there is a souvenir shop to explore as well.
Not a large structure, but really unique design and worth the visit. Entry cost Y400, and you can go up one side of the double-helix, cross over the center, and come down the other side.
