Heiwa no To Peace Pagoda

The Peace Pagoda at Menuma Shodenzan Temple stands on a small hill in the temple gardens, built to commemorate those who died in World War II and to mark the ratification of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty that formally ended the Allied occupation of Japan. Four figures are enshrined inside, including the cosmic Buddha and the Eleven-Headed Kannon. The pagoda was constructed by a descendant of master carpenter Hayashi Masakiyo, who oversaw the Shodendo main hall in the 18th century. It is a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property, and the surrounding temple grounds make for a quiet, unhurried visit.