Nanzoin Temple
Map
A special head temple (Betsukaku Honzan) of Koyasan Shingon in Sasaguri, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is known as Temple No. 1 of the Sasaguri 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku. The bronze reclining Shaka (Buddha) statue enshrined in the grounds is 41 meters long, 11 meters high and weighs about 300 tons, among the largest in the world, and inside it are enshrined Buddha relics (a triad of Shaka, Amida and Kannon).
Temple Info
- Sect
- Koyasan Shingon school (special head temple)
- Principal Image
- Shaka Nyorai (the historical Buddha); Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha); reclining Nirvana statue (enshrining the Buddha relics of the three honored ones)
- Founded
- Edo period
History & Origins
The Sasaguri 88 Temple Pilgrimage has continued since the Edo period, and Nanzoin plays the role of its head temple. The present great reclining Buddha was built in 1995. Buddha relics presented from Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are enshrined inside, and the temple has deep ties with Buddhism in Southeast Asia.
Highlights
The bronze reclining Shaka statue, 41 meters long, amazes visitors with its overwhelming scale. Visitors can go inside and worship the Buddha relics (for a fee), a rare chance to pay respects to the relics of the Shaka, Amida and Kannon triad. The grounds also have a Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage course.
Visitor Guide
Get off at Kido-Nanzoinmae Station on the JR Fukuhoku Yutaka Line (Sasaguri Line) and walk 3 minutes (about 20 minutes by rapid train from Hakata Station). The reclining Buddha is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). Admission is 500 yen for general visitors and free for those under 19. Allow about 60 to 90 minutes.
Best Season
Fresh greenery in May and autumn leaves in November color the grounds beautifully. A hydrangea festival is also held around June, drawing many visitors.
Annual Events
- June
Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea Festival)
A festival held to coincide with the season when the hydrangeas on the grounds are at their best. The combination of colorful hydrangeas and the reclining Nirvana Buddha is popular.
- August
Obon Mairi (Obon Visit)
A memorial service for ancestors held at the time of Obon. As the head temple of the Sasaguri pilgrimage, many worshippers pray for the repose of their ancestors.
Related Spots
All →Chugoku / Hiroshima
Daishoin Temple
A temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism on Miyajima (Itsukushima) in Ha…
Kansai / Wakayama
Kimiidera Temple
The head temple of the Kyuse Kannon sect, on the slope of Mt. Nagusa in Wakayama…
Kansai / Nara
Taimadera Temple
An old temple in Katsuragi, Nara Prefecture, unusual in being jointly maintained…
Kansai / Nara
Abe Monjuin Temple
An old temple of the Kegon sect in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture. It is said to have …