Nanzoin Temple: Home of the Reclining Buddha

Nanzoin Temple, originally located on Mount Koya, was moved to its current location in Sasaguri in 1899 due to anti-Buddhist movements. Today, it serves as the head temple and the first amulet-issuing office of the Sasaguri pilgrimage route. This pilgrimage is one of the three major Shin-Shikoku sacred sites.The temple's main attraction is the colossal reclining Buddha statue, known as Nehanzo or Shaka Nehan, completed in 1995. This bronze statue is 41 meters long, 11 meters high, and weighs approximately 300 tons. It depicts Buddha at the moment of death and entry into Nirvana and houses ashes of Buddha and two of his disciples, Ananda and Maudgalyayana, gifted by the Myanmar Buddhist Council in gratitude for the temple's aid to children in Myanmar and Nepal.Beyond the Reclining Buddha, Nanzoin features numerous chapels, shrines, and statues, including a statue of Fudo Myo-o, 500 statues of Buddha's disciples, an Inari Shrine, and a shrine honoring the Shichifukujin, the seven lucky gods of Japan. Visitors can also walk through the Tunnel of the Seven Lucky Gods, believed to bring good luck. The temple offers unique experiences in every season, with cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and vibrant foliage in autumn.