Photo: Nick-D / CC BY-SA 4.0Fukuoka's own tourism guide calls it Japan's largest wooden statue of a seated Buddha at 10.8 metres, with about 5,000 small Buddhas along the wall behind it. The temple is traditionally said to have been founded in 806 by Kukai on his return from China, and it is the head temple of the Kyushu branch of the Shingon sect.
What makes it a short-call favourite is that you can walk inside the base. The tourism guide describes an opening in the pedestal that leads along a path hung with hell scrolls, in darkness, towards a light-filled image of heaven; a ring touched halfway is said to ensure entry to the next world. The grounds also hold a five-storey pagoda finished in 2011 after 37 years of construction.
The catch is that opening hours and the fee are not confirmed from an official source, and the temple is part of a lane of temples rather than a major sight. It pairs naturally with Kushida Shrine and Canal City, but alone it is not worth a long trip if rain or a late return is a risk.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Take the subway one stop from Hakata Station to Gion rather than walking; the temple is about a minute from Gion Station according to the city's tourism guide.
- Allow time for the hell and paradise passage: the path under the pedestal is dark, so go slowly and hold the rail.
- Hours and entrance fees were not confirmed from an official page; take small coins and expect last entry near 16:45 as some listings suggest.
- Walk on to Jotenji and Ryuguji temples: the tourism guide's Hakata Old Town course lists them at 5 and 3 minutes' walk.
- Cherry-blossom season and New Year's Eve are the busiest times, according to the tourism guide.
The grounds also hold a five-storey pagoda finished in 2011 after 37 years of construction.
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Questions people ask here
How big is the wooden Buddha at Tochoji?
Fukuoka's tourism guide gives it as Japan's largest wooden statue of a seated Buddha at 10.8 metres. About 5,000 small Buddha statues line the wall behind it.
How do I get to Tochoji from Hakata cruise port?
Walk about 500 m to the International Terminal stop, take the bus to Hakata Station (17 minutes, ¥260), then ride the subway one stop to Gion. The temple is about a minute from Gion Station. Allow about 45 minutes each way.
What are Tochoji's opening hours and admission?
We could not confirm either from an official source. A listing supervised by the temple gives 9:00–17:00 daily, and several guides cite a small charge for the hall, but both are unverified. Check locally on the day.