Home to the world's largest bronze reclining Buddha statue (11 m tall, 41 m long); beautiful mountain setting in Sasaguri.
Nanzoin Temple (南蔵院) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Sasaguri, a mountain town approximately 30 minutes east of central Fukuoka by the JR Sasaguri Line from Hakata Station. The temple is internationally recognised for housing the world's largest bronze reclining Buddha statue — the Nehanzo — as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Nehanzo measures 41 metres in length and 11 metres in height and depicts the historical Buddha Shakyamuni at the moment of his parinirvana, or final passing. Cast from over 300 tonnes of bronze, the statue was completed in 1995 after approximately a decade of construction. Its scale is best appreciated from the far end of the platform where the statue lies, looking back along the full length of the figure from feet to face. The statue is hollow, and visitors can walk through internal corridors lined with rows of smaller Buddha images and reliquaries housing remains sent from Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
The temple grounds occupy a forested mountainside in the Sasaguri 88-Temple Pilgrimage Circuit — a local version of the famous Shikoku circuit — where Nanzoin serves as a primary landmark temple. The 10-minute walk from Kidonanzoin-mae Station winds past stone Jizo figures, small wayside shrines, and cedar and bamboo groves, building a contemplative atmosphere before the statue appears through the tree canopy.
Beyond the reclining Buddha, the grounds contain standing and seated bronze Buddha images, a prayer hall, and a hall dedicated to Fudo Myo-o, the deity of fire and determination. The temple has a well-known reputation for financial luck: the chief priest reportedly won a major lottery jackpot, which he attributed to the Nehanzo's blessing, drawing visitors seeking fortune as well as those drawn by the statue's scale.
Weekend tour groups can crowd the statue's base significantly; weekday mornings offer a considerably quieter experience.
Highlights
- World's largest bronze reclining Buddha — 41 m long, 11 m tall (Guinness-recognised)
- Interior walkthrough of the hollow statue with reliquaries and smaller Buddha images
- Forested approach from Kidonanzoin-mae Station lined with stone Jizo figures
- Starting landmark of the 88-temple Sasaguri Pilgrimage Circuit
- Reputation for financial fortune linked to the temple priest's historic lottery win
Tips for visiting
- Take the JR Sasaguri Line from Hakata Station to Kidonanzoin-mae Station (two stops past Sasaguri); the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
- The statue interior corridor involves an additional small fee payable at the entrance steps; the grounds themselves are free.
- Weekday mornings offer the most serene experience — weekend tour groups crowd the base of the statue and interior corridors.
- The 10-minute walk from Kidonanzoin-mae Station to the temple gate follows a quiet road past stone statues; comfortable shoes are recommended.
- Omamori charms for financial luck are sold at the temple and are among the most distinctive souvenirs available in Fukuoka Prefecture.
When to visit
Spring (March–April) for mountain flowering plants and autumn (November) for red maple foliage along the pilgrimage paths. Weekday mornings year-round for the quietest visit to the statue platform.
Accessibility
The main path from Kidonanzoin-mae Station and around the base of the statue is mostly paved, with some uneven stone sections on the approach. The hollow statue interior involves a staircase and is not wheelchair accessible; the full exterior of the statue can be viewed and photographed from the ground-level platform.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Nanzoin Temple take?
One to two hours covers the approach walk from the station, the statue exterior and interior corridors, and the main temple grounds. Allow additional time if walking sections of the Sasaguri Pilgrimage Circuit.
Is the Nanzoin reclining Buddha really the world's largest in bronze?
Yes — the Guinness Book of World Records recognises the Nanzoin Nehanzo as the world's largest bronze reclining Buddha at 41 metres in length and 11 metres in height.
Is photography allowed at Nanzoin?
Photography of the statue exterior and temple grounds is freely permitted. Flash photography inside the statue's interior corridors is generally discouraged out of respect for the reliquaries.