Tochoji Temple, Fukuoka

Kukai (Kobo-daishi) who has inherited esoteric Shingon Buddhism from priest Keika over China as Kento-shi (Japanese envoy to Tang Dynasty China). Kukai stayed in Hakata instead of going to Kyoto immediately after returning to Japan. Tochoji Temple is located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, when it was founded.
When you enter the mountain gate, you will see the “large cherry blossoms”. On the second floor, the Great Buddha Hall is also home to the “Fukuoka Daibutsu”, one of the largest in Japan.
It is about 10 minutes on foot from Hakata Exit of “Hakata Station”, and it is convenient to walk from “Gion Station” on the subway airport line. Tochoji Temple is located in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, where you can stop by.
“Tochoji” was erected in 806 when Kukai returned to Japan after his training in Tang and stayed in Hakata. It is a temple that prayed for Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, which has been completed in Tang Dynasty, to be transmitted to the east. In Shingon Buddhism, it is the oldest sacred place in Japan as the temple founded by Kukai.
On the left-hand side of the Mountain Gate is a stone monument built to commemorate the 1200th anniversary of Tochoji Temple. In the center is a majestic stone monument engraved with the “first cemetery of the Buddhist eastern Japan” and you can feel its history.
The Fukuoka Daibutsu in Tochoji is the largest in Japan among the seated wooden statues. A tour of hell paradise is set up in the base of Fukuoka Daibutsu. There seems to be a thrilling experience there. Those who have visited the hellish paradise recommend that everyone should go once. Why don’t you challenge once?
The cherry blossoms at Tochoji Temple are said to be a famous cherry blossom spot in Hakata. One tree is big and the branch is good, so you can feel the vitality of the original cherry tree. It is a very nice place when you want to enjoy the cherry blossoms quietly.
Every year from mid to late November, there are events that light up about 8 Hakata temples. Tochoji Temple is also lit up, but it is filled with a large number of people every year because you can enjoy a fantastic view different from the daytime.
It’s a wonderful temple that is in a big city but forgets the bustle of the city. You can do things that you can’t easily experience, such as visiting the hellish paradise, so please drop in at Tochoji Temple when you come to Hakata.

This temple was founded by Kukai in 806

Tochoji Temple is a temple located about 15 minutes on foot from JR Hakata Station. This is the oldest temple that Kukai (also known as Kobodaishi) who came back from Tang in 806 was the first to make in Japan. It seems to have been named “Tochoji” (literally means ‘east long’) so that Esoteric Buddhism is spread to the east for a long time.
The “Fukuoka Daibutsu” (Great Buddha of Fukuoka) in Tochoji Temple boasts the largest size in Japan as a wooden statue. Height is 10.8 meters, weight is 30 tons. There are 5000 small Buddha statues on the wall behind the Great Buddha.

Wooden sitting statue of Shaka Nyorai

The origin of this temple seems to have been an inn that was used as a place to accommodate the Buddha statues and textbooks that Kukai brought back when he returned to Hakata Port.
The “Fukuoka Daibutsu” that is settled here is Wooden sitting statue of Shaka Nyorai; all made of timber of Japanese cypress. It seems that the statue height is 10.8 meters after the number of human afflictions (it is assumed to be hundred and eight).

You can go to paradise by touching ring

This Fukuoka Great Buddha’s pedestal is “Hell, Paradise Tour” and the paintings of “Descent into Hell’” are adorned. You will enter a winding path with pitch dark from the middle and you can see the picture of Paradise as you proceed. It is as dark road as “Is there such a dark world from the daytime?” There is a ring in the middle of the road and you can go to paradise by touching it, so please be careful and proceed.

This is the second tower in Kyushu

In 2011, a five-storied pagoda of 26 meters in total cypress production was also built. This is the second tower in Kyushu next to “Five-story pagoda of Rengein Tanjo-ji Temple” in Tamana City, Kumamoto.

It is a temple opening the door to general worshipers

In the past, it seems that there is a background that the history of Hakata Gion Yamakasa continued as the priest of Tochoji Temple served as a priest instead, when the priest was absent at Kushida Shrine. For that reason, they are still dedicating Yamakasa by setting “Sacred Road” in front of Tochoji Temple with appreciation even now. It is the characteristic of this temple that not only annual events such as night bells and Setsubun Festival but also various events such as Japanese drums and fashion shows are performed. It is also a temple that is opening the door to general worshipers.

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