What to know
Rising 120 meters into the sky, the Ushiku Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Ushiku) in Ibaraki Prefecture is one of the world's tallest Buddha statues. To put its size in perspective, Nara's Daibutsu at Todaiji Temple stands only 15 meters tall and could easily fit in the palm of this colossal bronze figure. The statue's height symbolizes the twelve kinds of light that, according to the True Pure Land sect of Japanese Buddhism, radiate from the Buddha and reach all who recite his name.
The Ushiku Daibutsu sits within a spacious park that features over 100 cherry trees, typically blooming from early to mid April. Other seasonal flowers include pink moss (April), poppies (May), and cosmos (September and October). Along the path to the statue, visitors pass the two-story Hakkenmon Gate, which houses three Buddha images on its second floor, a pond representing the source of life, Japan's largest bronze incense burner, and a small Pure Land garden depicting Buddhist paradise.
Beyond admiring the statue from outside, you can also enter it. Inside, there are five floors connected by an elevator that links the lower three floors to the upper two. The tour begins on the first floor with a conceptual light show illustrating the light emanating from the Buddha. Then, an elevator takes you from the second floor to the fifth floor at an elevation of 85 meters, where some of the Buddha's remains are enshrined and slim glass windows offer views in all four directions.
A short staircase leads down to the fourth floor, which houses a small souvenir shop. From there, the elevator descends about 70 meters to the third floor, home to an impressive golden sanctuary containing around 3,400 Buddha statues. The second floor provides a space for those wishing to copy sutras (for an additional fee).
The nearest train station is Ushiku Station, reachable from Tokyo (Ueno, Tokyo, or Shinagawa stations) in about one hour via the JR Joban Line. The one-way fare is 1,040 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass, and JR East Pass.
From Ushiku Station's east exit, take a bus bound for Ushiku Daibutsu or Ami Premium Outlet and get off at Ushiku Daibutsu. On weekends, buses run every hour and cost 560 yen one way; on weekdays and public holidays, they run every two hours and cost 730 yen one way. The bus ride takes about 20–25 minutes. Alternatively, a taxi from Ushiku Station takes 20 minutes and costs around 3,500–4,000 yen one way.