Ushiku Daibutsu Tsukuba
Ushiku Daibutsu: the Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki is one of the tallest statues in the world and at 120m is the tallest Buddhist statue.
Ushiku Daibutsu 牛久大仏
Ushiku Daibutsu, Ibaraki, stands 120 meters tall
Ushiku Daibutsu, located south east of the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest Buddhist statue in the world (from 1993-2002) at 120 meters or equivalent to a 38-story building.
The height of the giant, bronze statue includes the 10 meter high base and 10 meter high lotus platform.
The Ushiku Daibutsu weighs an incredible 4000 tons and was built in 1993 to commemorate the birth of Shinran (1173-1263), the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism, with its HQ at the Honganji temples in Kyoto.
Visitors can ride an elevator to the viewing gallery at 85 meters, from where there are incredible views on a clear day as far as the Tokyo Skytree.
The Ushiku Daibutsu is also known as the Ushiku Arcadia (Amida's Radiance and Compassion Actually Developing and Illuminating Area).
The Ushiku Daibutsu in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture was built in 1993 to commemorate the birth of Shinran
The left hand of the Ushiku Daibutsu, in Ibaraki, is 18 meters long
Ushiku Daibutsu Tour
A tour of the Ushiku Daibutsu starts on the first floor in a dark room called the World of Infinite Light & Life. Visitors proceed to the the Observation Room (Room of Mount Gridhra-kuta; Vulture Peak) in an elevator with exhibits dedicated to the historical Buddha at 85 meters and then descend to the third floor (World of the Lotus Sanctuary) - which represents the Pure Land of Amida and is surrounded by 3,300 images of the Buddha.
Visitors then exit the statue via the second floor World of Gratitude and Thankfulness where they can copy the sutra Namu Amida Butsu ("I take refuge in the Amida Buddha"), using a traditional Japanese brush and ink.
The lovely gardens surrounding the statue are full of flowers in season, which visitos can pick and take home: cosmos in September and October, poppies in May, peonies and hydrangeas in May and June.
There is also a small petting zoo with squirrels, rabbits and some other small animals.
A light show and fireworks display is held at Ushiku Daibutsu on August 15.
The Ushiku Daibutsu, in Ibaraki Prefecture, seen from the rear
The World of the Lotus Sanctuary with over 3,000 gold Buddha statues, Ushiku Daibutsu
Ushiku Daibutsu Access - how to get to the Ushiku Daibutsu
By train, Ushiku Daibutsu is accessible from Ushiku Station on the JR Joban Line, which runs from Nippori or Ueno stations in Tokyo.
A bus from Ushiku Station departs from Platform 2 accessible through the station's East Exit, and takes 30-35 minutes to Ushiku-Daibutsu bus stop.
One weekdays there are buses from Ushiku Station at 9.55 am, 11.35 am, 12.55 pm, 1.50 pm and 3.20 pm; return buses are at 10.35 am, 1 pm, 1.45 pm, 2.35 pm and 4.10 pm.
On weekends and public holidays there are buses at 9 am*, 9.05 pm, 10 am*, 11 am*, 11.20 am, 12 pm*, 12.50 pm, 1.40 pm*, 1.45 pm, 2.30 pm*, 3.15 pm, 3.40 pm* and 4.40 pm*; return buses are at 10.25 am*, 11.25 am*, 12.10 pm, 12.45 pm*, 1 pm, 1.45 pm*, 2.30 pm, 2.45 pm*, 3.35 pm*, 3.55 pm, 4.35 pm* and 5.35 pm*.
*These are direct buses and take 23 minutes.
See here for information on the buses (in Japanese)
By car from Tsukuba, take National Highway 408 or 3 minutes from the Amihigashi IC of the Ken-o Expressway.
2083 Kuno-choUshiku-shiIbaraki300-1288Tel: 029 889 2931
Hours:March to September: Weekdays: 9.30 am-4.30 pm; Weekends: 9:30 am-5 pm
October to February: 9.30 am-4 pm daily
Admission: April-November 800 yen; December-March 700 yen
The World of Infinite Light & Life, Ushiku Daibutsu
