Tocho-ji

(Source : )

This is the first Japanese temple of Shingon Buddhism that has Fukuoka Daibutsu, one of the largest Japanese wooden sitting statue of Buddha, which is 10.8 meters high and 30 tons weight. This temple was built in 806 by Kukai, the historical priest, when he came back to Hakata after Buddhist training in China. They named the temple Tocho-ji, with the Chinese characters 東, east, and 長, long, with the wish that their prayer spreads over long distances to the east. The area contains Hondo, the main building, Rokkaku-do, the hexagon pagoda, Daibutsu-den, the building for the Buddha and Goju-no-To, and a five-storied pagoda. Especially Rokkakudo is worth seeing as a rare pagoda for Buddha. You can also see a wooden statue of Senju Kannon, which is an important cultural property of Japan.

Fukuoka Daibutsu: one of the Japanese largest wooden Buddhas

Fukuoka Daibutsu is enshrined in the Daibutsu-den. This is one of the largest wooden sitting Buddhas which is the biggest highlight of the temple. The height of the Buddha is 10.8 meters, and is connected to “108,” the number of human desires. You will be overwhelmed by the large Buddha statue, or Shaka Nyorai-zo, made with white cedar.

(Source: 写真提供：福岡市)

You can go to heaven? “Hell and heaven tour”

In the pedestal of Fukuoka Daibutsu, you can experience “Hell and heaven tour.” You will walk along the handrail in a pitch dark corridor after the relief work that describes hell. If you can touch “The circle of Buddha” in the middle, you will be guaranteed to go to heaven.

Cultural property of the city, a rare “Rokkaku-do”

In this building, there is a hexagon-shaped revolvable store, and they dedicated six Buddhas including Kobo Daishi, Monju Bosatsu and Jizo Bosatsu. Each side of the hexagon building has a door, so you can go into pray for each Buddhas from each doors. This is a rare building in Japan.