Fukuoka, Japan

Nanzo-in Temple + Tochoji Temple + Kushida Shrine

January 6, 2020

Posted In: Fukuoka | Japan | Travel

During our last trip to mainland Japan back in June 2018, we visited 7 cities including Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Fukuoka. On our full day in Fukuoka, we headed to the mountain area of Sasaguri to visit the reclining buddha at Nanzo-in Temple. We arrived at a tiny rural train station and walked a few minutes to the temple entrance. Although it was June the day was cloudy and easily about 60 degrees, so it felt amazing!! As we walked through the temple grounds we could hear water running from a nearby stream, saw green moss growing all over the place, and tons of little shrines scattered throughout. The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and without a doubt one of my favorite temples I’ve ever visited. I could’ve easily spent all day there.

^^ goodest boi waiting for his owner outside a little shop ^^

^ I miss these charming little scenes on every street corner ^

^^ those Japanese countryside views ^^

^ the face of a guy that refused to move so I could place the camera on the bench and take a photo of us ^

^^ If you’re ever in Fukuoka in autumn this temple ground must be even more gorgeous ^^

^ tiny sake bottle offerings around every corner ^

In case you are wondering the temple has probably hundreds of clothed statues like the ones above. These are statues represent Jizo Bosatsu, a divinity in Japanese Buddhism that protects children who have died before their parents. In Japan, Buddhists believe that stillborn, miscarried and aborted fetuses do not have the chance to build up good karma on earth and Jizo helps smuggle them into the afterlife in the sleeves of his robe. Grieving mothers clothe statues with warm accessories in hopes that Jizo will do the same to their children. Read more about them.

Tochoji Temple

We didn’t have any plans after Nanzo-in… so we just searched for another temple and shrine to visit. Inside the Tochoji Temple, there is a Great Buddha statue similar to the one in Nara and Kamakura, and one of the largest wooden seated statues of Buddha. Sadly it is inside a room that does not allow photography.