What age is this origami Five-story Pagoda for?

About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 6 steps, and takes about 10 minutes.

What paper do I need?

One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “ごじゅうのとう” (五重塔). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★Medium Japanese TraditionOriginal

How to make an origami Five-story PagodaごじゅうのとうFive-story Pagoda

A five-story pagoda. You make the stacked roofs by repeating a pleat fold.

6 steps
about 10 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 7+

How to fold

左右を、ななめにうしろへ折る
Fold the left and right sides behind at a slant.
上がせまく、下が広い形にします。
だんおりをする（1つめのやね）
Make a pleat: fold the bottom up, then fold it back down a little lower. This makes the first roof.
下の段が少し広くなって、やねのように左右に出ます。
少し下で、もう一度だんおり（2つめのやね）
Make another pleat a little lower for the second roof.
やねとやねのあいだが、同じくらいになるようにします。
少し下で、もう一度だんおり（3つめのやね）
Make another pleat a little lower for the third roof.
少し下で、もう一度だんおり（4つめのやね）
Make another pleat a little lower for the fourth roof.
上の2つの角を、うしろへ折る
Fold the two top corners behind.
いちばん上のやねになります。
できあがり！てっぺんのかざり（相輪・そうりん）をかいたら、五重塔のできあがり！
Finished! Draw the spire on the top, and your five-story pagoda is finished!

Fun fact

五重塔は、お寺にある5つのやねの塔です。京都の東寺（とうじ）の五重塔は、高さが約55メートルあり、日本でいちばん高い木の塔です。

A five-story pagoda is a tower with five roofs at a Buddhist temple. The pagoda at Toji Temple in Kyoto is about 55 meters tall, the tallest wooden tower in Japan.

Origami English in this model

pleat段折り
corner角
pagoda塔（とう）
templeお寺（てら）
five5（ご）

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Five-story Pagoda for?: About Age 7+. It is rated “Medium” (level 3 of 5), with 6 steps, and takes about 10 minutes.
What paper do I need?: One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “ごじゅうのとう” (五重塔). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.