The Buddha statue is one of the largest wooden seated Buddha figures in Japan.
The Jigoku-Meguri experience symbolizes the journey through the six realms of Buddhist existence.
Tocho-ji was founded by Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, upon his return from China.
The temple served as a significant site for the Kuroda clan, the feudal lords of the Fukuoka Domain.
The interior of the Buddha statue contains smaller votive statues placed by devotees.
The Giant Wooden Buddha, located within Tocho-ji Temple, features a 10.8-meter-tall seated wooden statue of Vairocana Buddha. Carved from a single piece of Japanese cypress, it was completed in the late 1980s after nearly four years of work. The temple itself, established in 806 AD by Kobo Daishi, ranks as one of the oldest Shingon temples in Japan. Visitors enter the Buddha statue through a passage representing the afterlife, known as the Jigoku-Meguri. This path takes visitors through a pitch-black corridor meant to represent hell, ending with a stone that, when touched, is said to bring salvation. The temple grounds also house a five-story pagoda and a mausoleum containing the remains of several Fukuoka feudal lords.
The red five-story pagoda located in the outer courtyard provides the most iconic frame.
Walk through the pitch-black tunnel slowly, using your hand along the wall to navigate.
Visit the second-floor viewing area for a closer look at the Buddha's head and intricate craftsmanship.
Keep your voice low, as the temple remains an active place of worship.
Do not take photographs inside the building housing the main Buddha statue, as it is strictly prohibited.
Remove shoes before entering the temple buildings; keep shoulders and knees covered; silence mobile phones.
