Ushiku Daibutsu Travel Guide

Monumental doesn’t even begin to describe the scale of this incredible statue. The Ushiku Daibutsu is an effigy of Buddha, standing 120 meters tall — the third largest statue in the entire world. It’s almost impossible to convey that sort of scale through words, so the only option is to see it in person!

You’ll see it long before you enter its grounds, as it's visible from the entire surrounding area. Once you get up close, the size will begin to hit you — it’s three times taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty. And like the Statue of Liberty, you can enter inside the monument itself.

In the interior, you’ll find an atmospheric world of spirituality, with rooms featuring thousands of illuminated Buddha statues standing as monuments to the departed loved ones of the families who bought them. Standing under 4000 tons of stone can be quite an intimidating feeling, made no easier by the replica of the Buddha’s gigantic toe which you’ll also find in here!

Although Asia is filled with so-called “big Buddhas,” Ibaraki’s Ushiku Daibutsu puts them all to shame. Once you’ve grasped the sheer scale for yourself, you’ll surely agree.