Ibaraki · UshikuNo.184★★★Open in map →
Ushiku Daibutsu
— a 120-metre bronze Buddha
A bronze standing Buddha 120 metres tall, including its lotus pedestal, rising above an extensive Pure Land garden in Ibaraki Prefecture. Visitors can ride an elevator to an observation floor at 85 metres inside the statue.
Ushiku Daibutsu stands in a wide Buddhist garden about 50 kilometres northeast of central Tokyo, in Ibaraki Prefecture. The figure depicts Amida Nyorai — the Buddha of Infinite Light — with arms slightly extended, palms facing outward in a gesture of welcome. From ground level the scale is difficult to take in at once: the statue is roughly equivalent in height to a 30-storey building, and dwarfs the surrounding trees and park structures. An elevator in the base carries visitors up through five interior floors, including a small museum about Shinran (the 13th-century founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism) and a viewing gallery at 85 metres, from which Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji are visible on a clear day. A large lotus pond and flower garden spread around the base.
Background & history
The statue was conceived in 1983 to commemorate the birth of Shinran — the monk who founded Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in the 13th century — and was commissioned by Higashi Hongan-ji, one of the leading temples of that tradition. Construction was completed in 1993, and for fifteen years until 2008 it held the Guinness World Record as the world's tallest bronze statue. As of 2026 it remains among the five tallest statues in the world. The total height of 120 metres breaks down as roughly 10 metres base, 10 metres lotus pedestal, and 100 metres statue proper.
What to look for — in walking order
- Exterior view from the garden path
- the full 120-metre figure is visible across the lotus pond on the approach path; best seen from a distance for scale
- Interior museum floors (1F–4F)
- themed floors on Shinran, Pure Land Buddhism, and a simulated golden lotus chamber at the base of the figure
- Observation gallery at 85 m (4F)
- enclosed viewing windows at 85 metres; Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji visible on a clear day
- Jodo Pure Land garden
- large flower garden and lotus pond surrounding the statue, with seasonal blooms including wisteria and nemophila
How to enjoy it
The entrance complex includes a deer garden and flower park, so allow 2–3 hours to explore the full grounds. The interior elevator is the main draw; buying a combined admission ticket covers both the garden and the statue interior. Clear days offer the best views from the 85-metre gallery.
How to actually get there
- Ueno Station → Ushiku Station (JR Joban Line, ~45–50 min).
- Ushiku Station east exit → Ushiku Daibutsu stop (Kanto Railway bus, ~20–25 min; buses infrequent, check timetable).
- Statue entrance → interior elevator to 85-metre observation gallery + garden circuit (allow 2–3 hr).
- Ueno Stn →(JR Joban Line)→ Ushiku Stn →(Kanto Railway bus)→ Ushiku Daibutsu
- From Ueno Station, take the JR Joban Line (rapid or local) to Ushiku Station (about 45–50 min; trains run every 15–30 min). From Ushiku Station's east exit, board the Kanto Railway bus bound for Ushiku Daibutsu and get off at the Ushiku Daibutsu stop (about 20–25 min). The bus runs several times a day — check the timetable in advance as intervals can be 1–2 hours. Total about 65–75 minutes.
- Return bus from Ushiku Daibutsu stop to Ushiku Station
- Take the same Kanto Railway bus back to Ushiku Station, then the JR Joban Line to Ueno. Check the afternoon bus timetable when you arrive, as buses are infrequent. The last bus from the Daibutsu stop runs in the late afternoon.
Before you go
- Cash
- IC cards (Suica / Pasmo) are accepted on the JR line. The Kanto Railway bus and the attraction entrance fee are paid by cash or IC card. Combined admission (garden + statue interior) is the standard ticket; check the official site for current pricing.
- Closing days
- The statue grounds close in the late afternoon (typically around 17:00). The bus from Ushiku Station runs only a handful of times per day — check the timetable before arriving. The grounds are busy in late April and early May during wisteria and nemophila season.
- Another way
- By car from Tokyo, the Joban Expressway takes about 50 minutes to the Ushiku-Amiminami IC, then a short drive to the site. Parking is available on site.
- After you get off
- From Ushiku Station's east exit, board the Kanto Railway bus at the bus stop on the east side and ride to the Ushiku Daibutsu stop; the statue is visible from the bus. From the bus stop the entrance gate is a 1–2 minute walk.