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Ushiku Daibutsu: Towering Bronze Buddha

Visit the Ushiku Daibutsu, one of the world's tallest Buddha statues, and explore its museum, gardens, and panoramic views in Ibaraki.

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The Ushiku Daibutsu, located in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the world's tallest Buddha statues, standing at an impressive 120 meters. Built in 1993 to commemorate the birth of Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, the statue offers visitors a unique experience, including an interior museum and an observation platform with panoramic views.

A brief summary to Ushiku Daibutsu

Local tips

  • Take the elevator to the 85-meter observation floor for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
  • Explore the interior museum to learn about the statue's construction and the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism.
  • Stroll through the surrounding park and gardens to enjoy the seasonal flowers, especially the cherry blossoms in April.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Tokyo, take the JR Joban Line to Ushiku Station. From Ushiku Station's east exit, take a Kanto Railway Bus bound for Ushiku Daibutsu. The bus ride takes approximately 30-35 minutes and costs ¥680. An express bus is also available on weekends for ¥520.

  • Car

    From central Tokyo, the Ushiku Daibutsu is approximately a 90-minute drive via the Joban Expressway (Amihigashi IC exit). Ample free parking is available on-site.

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Discover more about Ushiku Daibutsu

The Ushiku Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Ushiku) is a towering bronze statue that dominates the landscape of Ushiku, Ibaraki. Completed in 1993, it stands 120 meters tall, making it one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world. For a time, it held the Guinness World Record for the tallest bronze statue. The statue commemorates the birth of Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism. Visitors can enter the Daibutsu and explore its interior, which houses a four-story building that functions as a museum. Inside, exhibits detail the statue's construction, display a scale model of its thumb, and provide information about the Jodo Shinshu sect. An elevator ascends to an 85-meter-high observation floor, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including, on clear days, the Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji. The Ushiku Daibutsu is surrounded by a spacious park adorned with seasonal flowers. Cherry blossoms bloom in early to mid-April, followed by pink moss, poppies, and cosmos in subsequent months. The park also features a two-story gate, the Hakkenmon Gate, housing Buddha images, a pond, Japan's largest bronze incense burner, and a Pure Land garden.

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