Ushiku Daibutsu
牛久大仏
A bronze statue of Amida Buddha standing 120 meters tall with its pedestal; once certified by Guinness as the world's tallest bronze Buddha statue, with a viewing deck inside.
The Ushiku Daibutsu was completed in 1993. Including its pedestal, it stands 120 meters tall, and the statue itself measures 100 meters. It was once recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest bronze Buddha, and it can be seen from far away across the plains.
Inside the statue are several floors. An elevator takes visitors up to a viewing window at the chest, about 85 meters high, with views over the Kanto Plain. The hall also houses the Lotus Treasury World (Renge-zō Sekai), which enshrines more than 3,000 small gold Buddha statues. The surrounding Pure Land Garden has flowers throughout the seasons, and there is a small petting zoo.
Admission, including entry to the interior, starts at about 800 yen. Open about 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with seasonal changes. Getting there: Take a bus about 30 minutes from Ushiku Station on the JR Jōban Line. From Mito, it's about an hour by car, and it's also a popular day trip from Tokyo.
Opening hours
09:30–16:30 (varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Kasama Nichido Museum of Art
- Kasama Inari Shrine
- Tokugawa Museum
- Lake Senba
- Kairaku-en
- Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki
- Tokiwa Shrine
- Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History