The Tokyo Daibutsu (big Buddha statue) is unknown to many travelers despite being in one of the busiest cities in the world. It’s hidden in deep in the suburbs within a temple with an ancient history. The immense bronze statue, once ranked next to Nara and Kamakura, can be seen at Tokyo’s Joren-ji Temple premises.
Statue origins
Joren-ji is a temple of the Jodo sect located in Itabashi Ward on the northwest corner of Tokyo. This 600-year-old temple was originally located in Itabashi-juku on the Nakasendo, one of Edo’s four post towns. But due to the modernization of the city and the construction of a new expressway, the temple was relocated.
In the Ouei era (1394-1428), Eirensha Ryokenmuteki founded this temple. However, the statue is not that old. In 1977, this statue was opened to the public. This towering Amitabha Buddha statue was built with prayers for a peaceful future so that no major natural disasters like earthquakes or wars would ever occur in the region.
At the time of construction, this colossal bronze statue, 13-meters high and weighing 32 tons, was the third largest after the daibutsu of Todai-ji temple and the Great Buddha of Kamakura in Japan.
Exploring the temple
In addition, there is a small Japanese-style garden, a pond filled with colorful carp, a bell tower, historic graves and stone statues of the Seven Lucky Gods in the precincts. A small shop on the temple ground has a variety of Japanese amulets that visitors tie in front of the statue to fulfill their wishes.
After paying a visit to Tokyo Daibutsu and Jorenji Temple consider going to Akatsuka Botanical Garden, Akatsuka Castle Site, Itabashi Art Museum and Akatsuka Park.
Being in the suburbs, these attractions remain mostly out of sight. But this beautiful temple complex alone, in such a peaceful setting within Tokyo, can easily become a great weekend getaway.
