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Nanzoin Temple

Well knownIn most guidebooks for this region — but rarely with the practical detail.

Researched and written by Hinato

Buddhareclining BuddhatemplepilgrimageSasaguri

Fukuoka · Fukuoka City

33.6210°N, 130.5020°E

A visit to Nanzoin Temple starts before the gate — how you approach it is part of what the site is asking of you.

Deep in the cedar forests of Sasaguri, by train from Hakata, Nanzoin Temple houses a bronze reclining Buddha 41 meters long and 11 meters high — the largest of its kind in the world. The sheer scale is disorienting: you approach along a path and suddenly a foot the size of a minivan appears through the trees. The body, draped in red robes and lying in the parinirvana pose, is visible from 300 meters away once you reach the clearing.

Beyond the main statue, Nanzoin's grounds include 88 stone Buddha images arranged in a loop that recreates the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage in condensed form — completing the circuit takes 90 minutes and passes through mossy forest sections that feel genuinely ancient despite the modern Buddha nearby.

What to know before you visit

Opening hours

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Closed: Open year-round

When to go

Year-round | Early morning (8:00–9:00 AM) before crowds

Admission fee

Grounds: free | Inner chambers: ¥300 | 88 pilgrimage circuit: free

How long to allow

90 minutes (main statue + 88 circuit)

How to reach it

Getting there in detail

Nanzoin Temple: 1035 Sasaguri-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka. From Hakata Station by JR Sasaguri Line (Kido-Nanzoin-mae Station, a short walk). Free entry to grounds. Budget: ¥300 for inner chambers.

Beyond the guidebook

**Lottery tickets for luck:** Nanzoin is famous in Japan for its resident Buddhist monk who won ¥1.3 billion in a lottery — believed to be due to the Buddha's blessing. The temple now sells special lottery-blessed ema (votive plaques) and omamori. Bring cash for the specific 'kane-un' (money luck) amulet — the actual format changes seasonally. **88 pilgrimage circuit timing:** Complete the miniature Shikoku circuit in the early morning (8:00–9:00) before crowds arrive. The inner forest section (images 30–55) is especially atmospheric in light rain or morning mist. **Photography of the main statue:** The best composition is from the side viewing deck at image statue #75 in the 88 circuit — the 41-meter bronze catches the eastern morning light perfectly at 9:00–10:00. **Combine with:** Sasaguri Kannon Waterfall (a short walk uphill from temple) — a small waterfall at a hillside Kannon shrine that almost no one visits, with clear water running year-round.

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