Let's set off to discover the most impressive spiritual sites around Fukuoka.
Admire the majestic wooden Buddha at Tocho-ji Temple, the largest in Japan.
Discover Nanzoin Temple, hidden in the mountains, and its unique atmosphere. This sacred place houses a jewel: the spectacular and colossal bronze statue of the reclining Buddha, the largest in the world, as big as the Statue of Liberty in New York, weighing 300 tonnes, and representing Buddha entering Nirvana. This statue holds the ashes of the Buddha and two of his disciples,
Amanda and Maudgalyayana.
Don't forget to go inside the statue and write a wish on a small wooden plaque, which is then burned.
You can approach the statue by holding the coloured cords attached to the Buddha's hand, which represent the 5 colours of light seen by the Buddha during his enlightenment. This gesture allows you to establish a spiritual connection and receive the blessings of the Buddha himself.
The temple also houses the statue of Fudo Myo Acalanatha, a fierce deity who protects against evil spirits, as well as more than 500 statues of Buddha's disciples, each with unique expressions and postures.
And curiously, it houses a small Inari shrine, the foxes dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and prosperity.
This temple, a key stage in the Sasaguri pilgrimage, which is more than 44 km long, offers a unique blend of spiritual atmosphere, stunning natural surroundings, and remarkable Buddhist art.
We continue the visit to the very large shrine of Daizaifu Tenmangu, a high point of Shintoism, the deity of studies and the arts.
It is renowned for its plum trees and its magnificent red Taiko-bashi bridge, divided into three parts representing the past, present, and future.
Don't miss the chance to try the local speciality, Umegaemochi, a grilled rice cake with red bean paste, in the traditional shops on the typical pedestrian street leading to the shrine. Lunch on site.