The Ushiku Daibutsu was built to commemorate the 20 years of missionary work that Saint Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect, did in Ibaraki Prefecture (Hitachi Province) as his base of operations in the Kanto region.
Registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue
It is so big that the Great Buddha of Nara could fit in the palm of his hand. It is the largest bronze Buddha in the world. The height of the Great Buddha is 120m, named after the twelve lights of Amida Buddha. By the way, the Statue of Liberty in the United States is 40m (including the torch!), so it is three times as tall. It is truly a height to look up to.
Everthing is so big
The snail-shaped thing on the left is a strand of hair on the head of the Ushiku Buddha, called rahotsu. It is 1m in diameter and weighs 200kg, and there are a total of 480 rahotsus on the head. A full-sized version is on display.
The large incense burner used to burn incense in front of the Buddha to purify the body also has a circumference of 2.5m. This is also the largest in Japan.
The Great Buddha itself is the temple
To visit the interior of the great budda, take the elevator to the observation deck on the 5th floor and then go down. Viewing inside the great budda is one-way. The entrance on the first floor is lit with green, blue, and vermilion lights, creating a mysterious atmosphere of entering the world of Great Buddha. You can take the elevator from the second floor of the temple to the height of the Great Buddha’s chest (5th floor) and look outside. From the vertical window at chest height, you can see the Japanese rural scenery, as well as Mt. Fuji and the Skytree if the weather is good.
On the way back, go down the stairs to the 4th floor and then take the elevator to the 3rd floor. On the 3rd floor of Gokuraku Jodo, the walls are lined with donated Buddha statues (inner Buddhas), which is an impressive sight. The 3,400 golden inner Buddhas shine brilliantly, making you feel solemn. Every day, sutras are chanted in the morning and evening.
Lotus pedestal
From the second floor, you can go to the lotus pedestal at the foot of the Great Buddha. The Great Buddha stands on a pedestal shaped like a lotus flower, and you can go to this pedestal. Looking up at the Great Buddha from here is also very impressive!
What I liked the most was the system that allows you to stick gold leaf on the lotus pedestal. You can purchase gold leaf for 300 yen per sheet and use gold leaf glue to stick it on. It’s a wonderful memorial to be able to stick gold leaf on this magnificent Great Buddha yourself. Be sure to do so to show your gratitude to the Great Buddha!
Pure land
There is a well-maintained garden around the Great Buddha. In the middle is a pond called Gunjoumi, where water represents the source of life. The seasonal flowers blooming around the pond represent all living things. There is a promenade, so it is a wonderful place to stroll while enjoying the seasonal flowers. You can enjoy the collaboration of seasonal flowers and the Great Buddha.
From the sky
It is located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, close to Narita Airport, so many planes fly overhead. The distance between the Great Buddha and the planes feels so close. If you are returning home from Narita Airport, be sure to to look for the Great Budda from the sky.
Stay tuned for more updates of Japan. See you soon!
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2083 Hisanomachi, Ushiku, Ibaraki
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