The original Buddha statue, completed in 1891, was a local icon until it was requisitioned and dismantled for its metal content in 1944.
The current statue is hollow and allows visitors to view religious artifacts inside, including a smaller wooden statue of the Buddha.
The temple was originally established as part of the Enryaku-ji network of temples.
The 1991 reconstruction was funded entirely by local donations to restore a symbol of the neighborhood's resilience.
The statue is officially known as the Hyogo Daibutsu, distinguishing it from the Great Buddha of Nara or Kamakura.
Nofukuji is a historic temple in Kobe famous for its Hyogo Daibutsu, a 18-meter-tall seated Buddha statue. The original temple was founded in 805 by Saicho, the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism. The current bronze Buddha is a 1991 reconstruction that replaced the original statue melted down for weaponry during World War II. The temple grounds house several smaller stone statues and memorial markers within a compact urban space. It serves as an active religious site maintained by the Tendai sect. The structure combines traditional temple architecture with modern bronze casting techniques.
From the ground level looking up at the statue to capture the scale against the temple backdrop.
Look for the small interior viewing area to see the sacred relics housed within the statue base.
Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding residential neighborhood to observe the local, non-touristy side of Kobe.
Bring small coins for traditional offerings at the temple altars.
Do not mistake this for the Nara Great Buddha; this is a smaller, neighborhood-focused site and does not offer extensive sprawling gardens.
Remove hats before approaching the Buddha; remain quiet as this is an active place of worship; do not touch the bronze surfaces of the statue.
