Echizen Daibutsu — Attraction in Katsuyama

The Echizen Daibutsu (越前大仏), or Echizen Great Buddha, is a monumental seated Buddha statue located at Daishizan Seidaiji Temple. Standing at 17 meters tall, it holds the distinction of being the tallest indoor seated Buddha statue in Japan, surpassing even the famous Great Buddha of Nara. The statue was inspired by the seated Buddha at the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, China.

Constructed in 1987 by local businessman Kiyoshi Tada as a gesture of gratitude to his hometown, the temple complex spans approximately 22 hectares. In addition to the Great Buddha, the main hall houses 1,281 smaller Buddha statues, creating a profound and serene atmosphere. The temple grounds also feature a five-story pagoda, which at 75 meters is the tallest of its kind in Japan, and a tranquil Japanese-style garden.

Admission fee:...

Echizen Great Buddha だいしざんせいだいじ・えちぜんだいぶつ

At 17 Meters Tall, This is One of Japan's Largest Buddha Statues

This amazing temple was built in 1987 by the late Kiyoshi Tada, a businessman from Katsuyama City who was made honorary citizen no. 1. The roughly 22-hectare temple grounds feature one of Japan's largest five-tiered pagodas, a large Butsuden (Buddha Hall), garden, and more. The Great Buddha statue here is 17 meters tall despite its seated pose, and was modeled after the seated Buddha statue in the Longmen Grottoes of Luoyang, in China’s Henan Province. In addition to the Great Buddha, the Butsuden building also houses a remarkable 1,281 smaller Buddha statues.

The place is totally blowing mind, great stop for sightseeing and pictures, you...

Goshuins are done here (not leaflets). If you’re in Fukui, highly recommend visiting this temple. This was definitely one of our highlights visiting Fukui. There’s an entrance fee of about 500 yen.

The views, especially against such blue skies and the surrounding green landscape gives such a feeling of vastness in this prefecture.

We visited May of 2021, tourism might be smaller during the pandemic as many shops were closed. Only a handful, including a cafe that played soft mellow strums on a large harp, were open.

There are many flights of stairs at the pagoda, but you’ll be glad to know that there’s actually an elevator as well. You can see the castle from across the...