Daihisan Stone Buddhas (Daihisan no Sekibutsu)

Daihisan Stone Buddhas (Daihisan no Sekibutsu)

Estimated to have been carved over 1,000 years ago, the Daihisan Stone Buddhas (大悲山の石仏) are a group of stone-carved Buddhas in Odaka, Minamisoma City, in the coastal area of Fukushima prefecture.

The Daihisan Stone Buddhas are made up of three groups of statues: the Yakushido Buddhas (薬師堂石仏), the Amidado Buddha (阿弥陀堂石仏), and the Kannondo Buddha (観音堂石仏). The statues are enshrined in a forest area with many smaller Buddha statues.

They are the biggest and oldest stone Buddha statues in the Tohoku area of Japan, and have been designated as a National Historical Site. Their origins, and much of their history, however, remain unknown, although they are presumed to have been built sometime during the Heian period of Japanese history, which goes from 794 to 1185.

In front of the entrance to the Yakushido Buddhas is a 45 meter high cedar tree known as Daihisan’s Giant Japanese Cedar Tree. The tree has a circumference of 8.4 meters at eye level, and is one of the largest trees in Fukushima prefecture, also estimated to be over 1,000 years old. It is designated as a Natural Monument of Fukushima Prefecture.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://www.city.minamisoma.lg.jp/portal/english/aboutminamisoma/history/Cultural_Properties/13779.html
Contact

Minamisoma City Tourism Exchange Division
0244-24-5263
kankokoryu@city.minamisoma.lg.jp

Best SeasonAll Year
Access Details
AccessYakushimae-206, Odaka Ward, Izumisawa, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Pref.
View directions
Getting there

By car: Approx. 25 min. by car from Haranomachi Sta. in Minamisoma City via Prefectural Route 120. Approx. 10 min. by car from the JR Odaka Station.

By train: 20 min. on foot (1.8 km) or 5 min. by taxi from Momo-Uchi Station (JR Joban Line).

Nearby

You might also like

Nomaoi Street Meijo Hall
History & Culture

Nomaoi Street Meijo Hall

Nomaoi Street Meijo Hall has been established in the building of the former Matsumoto Brewery, which was a well-known brewery started in the late Edo Period. The hall now primarily functions as exhibition space, lending its unique kura (Japanese warehouse) rooms to host art and photo exhibitions as well as musical events. There are also a couple of small permanent exhibitions about life in the Meiji Period. The relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant Shokusaian is also popular with visitors.

Yamatsumi Shrine
History & Culture

Yamatsumi Shrine

Deep in Iitate Village on Mt. Toratori, Yamatsumi Shrine is the rare Japanese shrine based on wolves, instead of the more common foxes or 'lion dog' shisas. The ceiling of the main building, layered with dozens of traditional paintings of wolves, was damaged in a fire in 2013 but was faithfully repainted by students from the Tokyo University of the Arts utilising old photos.This is a good spot for buying an omamori good luck charm from a vending machine, or reading your fortune - there are both fortunes for general luck and for one's love life, at 50 yen and 100 yen respectively.There is ample parking near the shrine and toilets on site.

Top