It can also be found at some Shinto shrines which used to function as temples (see article Shinbutsu shūgō), as for example Nikkō Tōshō-gū.
Two main types exist, the older hakamagoshi (袴腰), which has walls, and the more recent fukihanachi (吹放ち) or fukinuki (吹貫・吹抜き), which does not.
[1] During the Nara period (710–794), immediately after the arrival of Buddhism in Japan bell towers were 3 x 2 bay, 2 storied buildings.
An extant example of this style is Hōryū-ji's Sai-in Shōrō in Nara (see photo in the gallery).
Finally, during the 13th century the fukihanachi type was created at Tōdai-ji by making all structural parts visible.