You have seen a picture of this pagoda ('Tou' in Japanese).People call this tower 'Yasaka-no-tou' (official name is 'Hokanji Temple'.) It's located in the center, between Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizudera Temple and registered as an Important Cultural Property. It originates from the 6th century and the present pagoda was rebuilt in the 15th century after the fire. It is said to be the symbol of Kyoto.
However, I had never seen the inside of the temple. （You have to be careful of the closing time of each temple, because temples open in the morning and close in the evening, around 5:00 p.m.) even though I have walked through the small street in front of this temple with my guests so many times. The woman of the temple told me that they decide whether they will open the temple or not on the morning of each day when I called to ask.
(I had just one family who could enter the temple by chance on the previous day when we met.)
And, finally, the other day, I saw the small gate of this temple opened, and could enter the temple with my husband. (He is 'a Lucky man') by chance.
This temple is dedicated to the five great Nyorai: Dainichi Nyorai, Shaka Nyorai, Amida Nyorai, Hosho Nyorai, and Ashuku Norai.
You can go up by climbing the ladder.
I hope that you will have a luck to enter the temple and see the inside.
