National treasure : Five-Story Pagoda of Mt.Haguro

The Five-Story Pagoda of Mt. Haguro was built in 937 and is now the oldest building in Tohoku Japan. It has been designated as one of the Five-Story pagodas National Treasure of Japan and is said to enshrine the God of Agriculture, where farmers will pray for a bountiful harvest. Surrounded by a cedar forest instead of on temple grounds as is usual in Japan, the architecture of the building took into account the heavy snowfall during winter, so that the accumulated snow on the top roof will not damage the roofs below.