observation tower; scout tower
A tower or raised platform used for watching or scouting, historically associated with festivals, military, or fire-watching.
During the festival, we looked out over the town from the observation tower.
Variant spelling omitting the okurigana せ; less common but still used.
Compound of 見せ (mise, 'showing') + 櫓 (yagura, 'turret, tower'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling 見櫓 may be a contraction.