Ushiku Daibutsu 牛久大仏, literally means “Big Buddha of Ushiku”. Buddha statues are quite famous in Japan. Statues at Nara and Kamakura are tallest and henceforth most touristy.
I have seen many seated Buddha statues, however this Buddha statue is magnificently standing. Ushiku Daibutsu’s height is 120 meters, and it appears like showering love and peace.
Ushiku Daibutsu Statue is tallest one at Japan, and hold fourth place for tallest statues in the world. However, it is the tallest statue in the world among bronze statue category .
How to reach Ushiku Buddha
Ushiku Daibutsu is situated in quite rural and non-touristy location, many people skip visiting this place even though it is only 1.5 hours from Tokyo station. I started living in Ibaraki more than a year back, but never made a trip to Ushiku Daibestu till last weekend. Praising it from the balcony of my apartment was nothing compared to the experience when I saw it from close distance.
Walk through our path to Ushiku Daibutsu
Since we were living in Ibaraki prefecture itself, it was a short travel for us. However, if you are traveling from Tokyo, there is a direct Joban line which takes around an hour to reach Ushiku station.
From Ushiku station, there is a direct bus to Ushiku Daibestsu, however the bus timings are limited. We took the bus around 10 am from Ushiku station and reached around 10:25 am to a bus stop near Ushiku Buddha. It costs around 525yen.
Here is Ushiku Daibutsu bus Timetable official website link.
Hours and Fees – Ushiku Buddha
Hours
- March to September – 9:30 to 17:00 (weekdays)
- March to September – 9:30 to 17:30 (weekends and national holidays)
- October to February – 9:30 to 16:30 (everyday)
- Admission close 30 minutes before closing
Admission
- 800 yen (including the entry inside the statue, park and riding the elevator to reach observation deck)
- 500 yen (park only)
I would recommend visiting this place during Sakura season (cherry blossom season), since you can enjoy the surrounding park as well. Other best seasons to visit Ushiku would be summer for fireworks and lantern festival.
Ushiku Daibutsu Park Area & Inside Statue
After entering the main entrance gate, there are benches on sides from where you can get the best pictures of the whole Buddha statue. It’s perfect spot for landscape photography. As you get closer to it, it gets difficult to capture the whole statue in one frame.
Enjoy the park area and proceed to enter inside the statue through the bridge of afterlife.
Honestly speaking standing at front of this statue and reading the pledge written down was quite spiritual. And it felt like getting showered by the love and affection.
After entering inside the statue, the first floor called as “World of Infinite Light & Life”, has dim lights and brightly coloured multiple small Buddha statues.
After leaving this area, we reach the photo gallery related to history of Buddha and construction of this magnificent statue on the second floor. This floor explains well about “what is Ushiku Daibutsu’s History”, and “why was the Ushiku Daibutsu statue built”.
Take the elevator to reach the observation deck and enjoy overseeing the city. You can even spot Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Skytree from the windows carved at the chest and back of the statue.
Next go down by the elevator, and reach the third level which is named as “World of the Lotus Sanctuary”. It became one of our favourite spot. It has thousands of bronze Buddha statues covering the inside wall from top to the bottom. We even saw the monks performing the regular chanting rituals at this place.
Going further down to the second floor, there are dozens of paintings of Buddha and they even give provision to sit and practice your calligraphy.
Day Trip to Ushiku Daibutsu
You can visit Ushiku Daibutsu along with covering nearby famous sightseeing spots. City near to Ushiku Daibutsu like Tsuchiura is recommended to visit during cherry blossom Also, Mount Tsukuba is spectacular for beautiful vista and hiking.
Share your experience in comment section, we will love to hear it.
Important Links
- Ushiku Daibutsu Official Website Link
- Ibaraki Prefectural Tourism (English | Japanese )
Frequently Asked Questions about Ushiku Daibutsu – FAQ
1. How tall is Ushiku Daibutsu?
Ushiku Daibutsu stands at a height of approximately 120 meters (394 feet), making it one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world.
2. Where is Ushiku Daibutsu located?
Ushiku Daibutsu is located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
3. Can visitors go inside Ushiku Daibutsu?
No, visitors cannot go inside Ushiku Daibutsu. However, there is an observation deck at the top where you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area.
4. Is photography allowed at Ushiku Daibutsu?
Yes, photography is allowed at Ushiku Daibutsu. Capture the serenity and beauty of the statue through your lenses.
5. What is the significance of Ushiku Daibutsu?
Ushiku Daibutsu holds great significance as a symbol of Buddhist heritage and represents peace, compassion, and enlightenment.
6. How long did it take to build Ushiku Daibutsu?
The construction of Ushiku Daibutsu took approximately 10 years, from 1993 to 2002, involving a team of skilled artisans and craftsmen.
