OTHER SITES
Sazaedō (Aizuwakamatsu)
Sazaedō stands on Mount Iimori in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Built in 1796, it is the only hexagonal, three-storey wooden structure in the world, renowned for its exceptionally rare double-helix ramp design
Its formal name is Entsū Sansōdō, meaning ‘going round three times’. There are no stairs inside, but only gently sloping ramps. The routes for going up and coming down are separated one-way paths, ensuring that visitors never cross each other. Walking up requires one and a half rotations, and coming down another one and a half, making exactly three full turns in total.
In the past, the hall enshrined 33 Kannon statues. Worshippers would move slowly along the ramps, completing a pilgrimage in three full turns. Although the statues have since been relocated, the atmosphere of devotion remains strong. In earlier times, visitors also placed customized stickers bearing company or personal names inside the hall, praying for safety and wishes. The more the stickers, the stronger the sense of living faith. These layer-by-layer offerings throughout its history have made the building remarkable in nature.
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