Find Buddhist Spots
A connection with a Buddha image may appear unexpectedly. Search for places that may lead you to your own My Buddha.
Myoonji Temple
Buddhist Image Stone Amida Nyorai Image (relocated from the Udono Stone Buddhas) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
佐賀県唐津市相知町相知1677
Visiting Status Viewable (tourism information lists 9:00–17:00; the stone image can be seen in the garden. Confirm gate access before visiting)
StillnessDepthPeacefulness
Myoonji is a Soto Zen temple traditionally dating to the period of the Northern and Southern Courts. Its garden contains a stone image of Amida Nyorai relocated from the Udono group of rock-carved Buddhas, one of Karatsu's major Buddhist heritage sites. The Udono carvings are associated with worship from the fourteenth century onward, and the relocated figure preserves part of that history. A stone pagoda depicting the Six Jizo can also be seen beside the gate. Tourism listings give viewing hours of 9:00–17:00, though access should be confirmed. Sources disagree on whether the Amida image is standing or seated, so its posture is not specified here.
Hosenji Temple
Buddhist Image Stone Figures of the Sixteen Arhats Category Other
佐賀県杵島郡白石町大字馬洗2261
Visiting Status Viewable on the temple grounds (outdoor images; opening hours are not specified, so daytime visits and advance confirmation are recommended)
StillnessDepthWarmth
The grounds of Hosenji, a temple revived by the Sengoku-period lord Ryuzoji Takanobu, contain a group of stone figures representing the Sixteen Arhats. The arhats are disciples entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha's teachings; their varied representations offer another way to encounter Buddhist devotion. Saga Prefecture's official tourism website lists them among the temple's notable sights, alongside the large wooden seated Birushana Buddha and its principal Eleven-faced Kannon. Unlike the Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall, these figures can be seen in the grounds.
Daikozenji Temple
Buddhist Image Natural Stone Relief Slab (believed to depict Seitaka Doji) Category Other
佐賀県三養基郡基山町園部3628
Visiting Status Viewable outdoors in the temple grounds to the left of the Main Hall (confirm visiting hours with the temple)
Tense PresenceMysteryDepth
Beside the Main Hall of Daikozenji stands a medieval stone relief from Japan's period of the Northern and Southern Courts. Carved into a granite slab approximately 1.3 m tall and 54 cm wide is a figure about 65 cm high, believed to represent Seitaka Doji, an attendant of Fudo Myoo. An inscription dated Shohei 10 (1355), using the Southern Court's era name, connects the monument with the political history of the region. It formerly stood beside a nearby farm road and is thought to have been venerated for healing, safe childbirth and protection from misfortune. It is designated an Important Cultural Property by Kiyama Town.
Suikozan Eifukuji Temple
Buddhist Image Stone Nyoirin Kannon in Half-Lotus Pose / Stone Jizo Bosatsu in Half-Lotus Pose Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
佐賀県小城市牛津町下砥川321
Visiting Status Advance arrangement required (Ogi City advises booking a visit; call the temple at 0952-66-0890 to confirm access to the images)
RefinementGentlenessDepth
Eifukuji, a Rinzai Zen temple along the former Nagasaki Highway, preserves two outstanding stone bodhisattvas carved by the Togawa stonemasons. The Nyoirin Kannon is housed within an intricately carved stone niche, while the Jizo Bodhisattva in a half-lotus pose was made in 1736 by master craftsman Hirakawa Yoshiemon. Both are designated Important Cultural Properties of Ogi City. Visits can be arranged in advance, allowing visitors to appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship of these devotional images.
Niiyama Jizoin Temple
Buddhist Image Juichimen Senju Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
佐賀県神埼市神埼町的1688
Visiting Status Temple grounds open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The principal image is normally hidden and traditionally unveiled around November 15–24; confirm the 2026 dates with the temple.
SolemnityMysteryStillness
Niiyama Jizoin preserves the legacy of the former Niiyama Gokokuji temple complex and serves as the twentieth temple on the Kyushu Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage. Its principal image is a roughly 175-cm standing Kannon with eleven faces and forty-two arms, finished in black lacquer and gold pigment and traditionally attributed to Gyoki. The statue is unveiled during the autumn season. Visitors can also see a Six Jizo stone monument dated 1517 in the grounds.
Kuyama Kannon Hall (Inner Sanctuary of Choshoji)
Buddhist Image Thirty-Three Stone Images of Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
佐賀県小城市牛津町上砥川
Visiting Status Visits to the hall and stone images are described by the local tourism association. Opening hours and interior access are not confirmed; check in advance. The mountain road is very narrow.
RefinementStillnessDepth
Kuyama Kannon Hall stands in the wooded hills of Ushizu as an inner sanctuary of Choshoji Temple. Its thirty-three stone images portray the forms in which Kannon Bodhisattva appears to save living beings. Inscriptions on fourteen of the figures date chiefly from 1696 to 1702, and local Togawa stonemasons, including Hirakawa Tokubei and Hirakawa Yoshiemon, are associated with their production. The expressive faces and finely rendered drapery recall wooden Buddhist sculpture. The group of thirty-three images is designated an Important Cultural Property by Ogi City.
Shounzan Mifukuji Temple
Buddhist Image Standing Wooden Amida Nyorai Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
佐賀県杵島郡白石町戸ヶ里2216
Visiting Status Normally not on view; the temple announces an annual unveiling at its November Buddha Statue Festival. Confirm the exact dates and viewing arrangements for 2026.
RefinementNobilityPeacefulness
Mifukuji in Shiroishi preserves a 77.7 cm wooden standing Amida Nyorai. An inscription on the wrapper of scriptures deposited inside the statue records its creation in 1222 by the Buddhist sculptor Rinken. The figure makes the welcoming mudra and is decorated with gold pigment and delicate cut-gold patterns, displaying the craftsmanship of the Kamakura period. Designated an Important Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture in 2020, it is normally hidden but is unveiled at the temple's annual November Buddha Statue Festival.
Jintsuzan Jokoji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Enma Daio with Underworld Judges and Demon Figures Category Other
佐賀県伊万里市木須町4676
Visiting Status Temple grounds are open for worship year-round. The opening hours of Enma Hall and access to its interior have not been confirmed; contact the temple before visiting.
PowerDignityTense Presence
Jokoji Temple in Imari has a remarkable Enma Hall with a wooden figure of Enma, the ruler and judge of the underworld, approximately 1.7 metres tall. Judges and red and blue demons stand beside him, and a mirror symbolizes the judgement of human deeds. Paintings of hell adorn the ceiling. The striking ensemble is highlighted by Imari City as a local attraction.
Tatsuishi Kannon
Buddhist Image Yakushi Nyorai, Amida Nyorai and Eleven-Faced Kannon Category Tathagata / Bodhisattva
佐賀県唐津市相知町立石
Visiting Status Free outdoor access year-round. Follow local signs rather than Google Maps navigation.
MysteryDepthStillness
Three Buddhist figures are carved into the rocky shelter at Tatsuishi in the Ochi area of Karatsu. Amida Nyorai stands at the centre, with a Yakushi Nyorai about 2 m tall to the viewer's left and Eleven-Faced Kannon Bodhisattva to the right. Their forms emerge directly from the natural rock face. Although their precise age is uncertain, the carvings are thought to date from around the late Heian to medieval period and are designated a Historic Site by Karatsu City. This group is distinct from the nearby Udono stone carvings.
Nichirinsan Mizudo Anpukuji Temple
Buddhist Image Stone Relief of One Kannon and Six Jizo Bodhisattvas Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
佐賀県杵島郡白石町堤3144
Visiting Status Temple grounds are accessible for worship. The annual sacred-water ceremony traditionally runs from the 15th day of the fourth lunar month to the 15th day of the seventh lunar month; in 2026 it ran from May 31 to August 27. Confirm access to the images inside the hall in advance.
MysteryStillnessDepth
At Mizudo Anpukuji in Shiroishi, a stone relief in the Sacred Water Hall depicts one Kannon and six Jizo Bodhisattvas, each about 50 cm high. An inscription dates the carvings to 1634. Sacred water traditionally flows from beneath the central Kannon image during a limited annual season. The unusual setting links Buddhist sculpture with a living local pilgrimage tradition.
Shitensha (Four Heavenly Kings Shrine)
Buddhist Image Four Stone Heavenly Kings: Jikokuten, Zochoten, Komokuten and Tamonten Category Tenbu (Deva)
佐賀県佐賀市大和町大字池上1501-1
Visiting Status Outdoor site with documented visitor access. The monument is maintained by local residents; there are no confirmed opening hours, so check for overgrowth and access restrictions.
PowerDignityMystery
Four weathered stone guardians stand on a burial mound at Ikegami in Saga City, arranged in the four cardinal directions around a central stone pagoda revered as Dainichi Nyorai. The statues range from 99 to 112 cm tall and are thought to date from the late Heian period. Despite centuries of weathering, their powerful forms and the demons beneath their feet remain visible. The rare ensemble is a designated Important Cultural Property of Saga City.
Fukusaiji Temple
Buddhist Image Bankoku Reibyo Nagasaki Kannon (Standing Jibo Kannon) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
長崎県長崎市筑後町2番56号
Visiting Status Normally open to visitors (8:00–17:00; free admission)
GentlenessSolemnityStillness
Fukusaiji, one of Nagasaki's Chinese-founded Obaku Zen temples, lost its temple buildings in the 1945 atomic bombing. In 1979, the Bankoku Reibyo Nagasaki Kannon was erected to commemorate victims of the atomic bombing and those who died in war, and to pray for peace. The silver-colored, 34-meter-tall standing Jibo Kannon rises above a turtle-shaped mausoleum and overlooks the city of Nagasaki. Visitors can enter the grounds free of charge from 8:00 to 17:00.
Sofukuji Temple
Buddhist Image Seated Shaka Nyorai, Standing Kasho and Anan, and Eighteen Rakan Category Tathagata / Other
長崎県長崎市鍛冶屋町7-5
Visiting Status Normally open to visitors (8:00–17:00; admission fee; closing time may change)
DignityRefinementSolemnity
Sofukuji, an Obaku Zen temple founded in 1629, houses a seated Shaka Nyorai, standing Kasho and Anan attendants, and eighteen Rakan figures in its National Treasure Daiyuhoden hall. The central triad consists of hollow dry-lacquer images. Objects found inside include a record dated 1653 and the names of Chinese sculptors, including Xu Runyang. The eighteen Rakan also reflect Chinese Ming-style sculpture, with a donation record dated 1677. The statue group is designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Nagasaki Prefecture. Paid admission is available from 8:00 to 17:00.
Sofukuji Temple
Buddhist Image Kanzeon Bosatsu and Idaten Images Category Bodhisattva / Deva
長崎県長崎市鍛冶屋町7-5
Visiting Status Normally open to visitors (8:00–17:00; admission fee; some areas inside are dim)
PowerDignityMystery
The Gohodo hall, built in 1731 and designated a nationally Important Cultural Property, enshrines Kanzeon Bosatsu at the center, Idaten to the viewer's left, and Guan Di to the right. Its design resembles the Heavenly Kings Hall found at Obaku temples and preserves Chinese-influenced devotional traditions and architecture. A tale associated with the monk Sokuhi says that Idaten killed mice which had eaten offerings made to Guan Di. Nagasaki City's official tourism guide highlights the images of Guan Di and Idaten among the hall's attractions.
Fukuishi Kannon Seiganji Temple
Buddhist Image Eleven-faced Kanzeon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
長崎県佐世保市福石町24-5
Visiting Status Normally hidden (unveiled during the annual Shimanrokusennichi Festival, August 8–10; confirm in advance)
GentlenessMysterySolemnity
The principal image of Fukuishi Kannon, counted among Kyushu's Seven Kannon sacred sites, is an Eleven-faced Kanzeon Bosatsu. According to temple tradition, Gyoki carved the statue in 710 and enshrined it in a cave. It is still worshipped in the inner sanctuary of the main hall, known as Gyoki-iwa. The image is normally concealed, but is unveiled during the annual Shimanrokusennichi Festival on August 8–10. Tradition holds that a visit on any one of those days brings the merit of 46,000 days of worship. Unveiling of the principal image was also announced for the 2026 festival.
Kotaiji Temple
Buddhist Image Seated Birushana Buddha (Great Buddha of Kotaiji) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
長崎県長崎市寺町1-1
Visiting Status Confirm in advance (temple grounds may be visited; ask the temple about viewing inside the Great Buddha Hall)
DignityNobilitySolemnity
The Great Buddha Hall at Kotaiji, a Soto Zen temple, enshrines a bronze seated Birushana Buddha. Records state that it was commissioned in 1677 by the temple's fifth abbot, Gyakuryu Teijun. Its crowned appearance reflects Chinese sculptural traditions. The statue measures about 3.6 m from its base to the top of the crown and more than 6.7 m including the pedestal. It escaped wartime metal requisition and was designated a Nagasaki Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property in 2012. The hall is also a prefecturally designated cultural property. Visitors may enter the temple grounds, but should confirm access to the hall's interior beforehand.
Manmyoji Temple
Buddhist Image Shaka Nyorai Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
長崎県雲仙市小浜町雲仙321
Visiting Status Confirm in advance (temple grounds can be visited; ask the temple about entering the Main Hall to view the Great Buddha)
PeacefulnessNobilitySolemnity
Manmyoji's main hall overlooks the Unzen hot-spring district and houses the Unzen Great Buddha, a golden seated Shaka Nyorai about five meters tall. According to an explanation published by the Japan Tourism Agency, the wooden statue was made in Kyoto and assembled here in 1917 after an earlier image had been lost in a fire. Five layers of gold leaf are used to protect its surface against discoloration from volcanic sulfur. Temple tradition holds that Gyoki opened the sacred mountain of Unzen in 701. The grounds and statue reflect the region's Buddhist heritage. Visitors should confirm access to the hall's interior in advance.
Gokurakuji Temple
Buddhist Image Standing Bronze Buddha Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
長崎県南松浦郡新上五島町若松郷211
Visiting Status Confirm in advance (contact the temple regarding viewing the principal image and an explanation by the head priest)
PowerDignityDepth
A small gilt-bronze Buddha is worshipped as the principal image of Gokurakuji, a Jodo Buddhist temple on Wakamatsu Island. About 36.7 cm tall, it has a full body, a gently arched stance, strongly defined eyebrows and eyes, and lively robe folds. Nagasaki Prefecture dates the work to the seventh century and describes its quality in relation to Unified Silla sculpture. A nationally designated Important Cultural Property, it is a rare example of early Buddhist art preserved on an outlying island. Tourism information says the head priest can offer an explanation if contacted in advance; visitors should also confirm the conditions for viewing the image itself.
Chorozan Reigenin (Taki no Kannon)
Buddhist Image Gyoran Kannon and Chinese-style Stone Buddhist Images Category Bodhisattva / Other
長崎県長崎市平間町1646
Visiting Status Normally open to visitors (no regular closing days; around 8:00–17:30 in summer and 8:00–17:00 in winter; admission fee)
MysteryDepthStillness
Reigenin, an Obaku Zen temple, is a historic Kannon pilgrimage site known as Taki no Kannon, or Waterfall Kannon. The monk Tetsugan established a meditation hall in 1660; in 1667, the Chinese merchant Xu Dengshou donated the main hall and its principal Gyoran Kannon image. Chinese-style Buddhist stone figures are scattered across the grounds, with a waterfall about 30 meters high behind them. The site was damaged in the 1982 Nagasaki flood and restored in 1987. The landscape as a whole is a Nagasaki Prefectural Place of Scenic Beauty, and visitors can normally enter on payment of an admission fee.
Ikitsuki Kannon Hall
Buddhist Image Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
長崎県平戸市生月町山田免570-1
Visiting Status Outdoor statue normally accessible (free entry to pedestal: 8:30–17:00 March–October, 8:30–16:30 November–February; closed December 31; special New Year hours)
GentlenessPowerSolemnity
A giant bronze Gyoran Kannon stands on a hill overlooking Tachiura fishing port on Ikitsuki Island. It was erected on April 29, 1980, to pray for world peace and safe voyages, and to commemorate those lost at sea as well as the lives of fish and shellfish. The image is 18 meters high above a 3-meter pedestal and weighs around 150 tonnes; a 2.5-centimeter pearl adorns its forehead. Visitors can enter the pedestal free of charge to see a one-tenth-scale Gyoran Kannon and around seventy other images, including carved wooden Kannon figures. The site brings the island's fishing traditions and Kannon devotion together.