Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
18 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
20 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
22 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
23 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Takaoka Takaoka Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Takaoka

Takaoka Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Takaoka

This giant bronze Buddha, the third largest in Japan, is the last in an ill-fated series of statues.

Takaoka, Japan

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/20697369@N00/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/20697369@N00/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandman_kk/38...
  http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/316543...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Although a large image of the Buddha has been located in Takaoka since at least 1221, the particular giant Buddha itself has been replaced many times. In 1745, a priest at the Gokurakuji temple carved a Great Buddha out of wood and painted it gold, but this particular Daibutsu was destined to burn, and then the next one burned, and the next one, and in 1900, a great fire completely destroyed the last wooden Daibutsu in Takaoka.

Construction on this current copper rendition began in 1907 and was completed in 1933. Built by Matsuki Sozaemon and local coppersmiths, the current statue took nearly 30 years to complete. Numerous repairs and renovations have been undertaken since its completion, and it seems the upkeep of the Takaoka Daibutsu is a continual struggle, but then, at least copper can't burn.

Related Tags

Sacred Spaces Giant Buddhas
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Edited By

kostas1964ath, mbison

  • kostas1964ath
  • mbison

Published

August 6, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://atlasobscura.com/blog/five-best-giant-buddhas-daibutsu-japan
Takaoka Daibutsu: The Great Buddha of Takaoka
Takaoka, 933-0039
Japan
36.745653, 137.017205

Nearby Places

Cosmo Isle Hakui

Hakui, Japan

miles away

The Firefly Squid of Toyama Bay

Namerikawa, Japan

miles away

Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato (Village of Statues)

Toyama, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 111

Nearby Places

Cosmo Isle Hakui

Hakui, Japan

miles away

The Firefly Squid of Toyama Bay

Namerikawa, Japan

miles away

Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato (Village of Statues)

Toyama, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 111

Related Stories and Lists

The Five Best Giant Buddhas (Daibutsu) of Japan

By Clinton

Related Places

  • The giant Buddha looms over the pathway.

    Beruwala, Sri Lanka

    Kande Vihara

    This amazing mountain temple is topped by one of the tallest sitting Buddha statues in the world.

  • Gilded statues inside the complex

    Myanmar (Burma)

    Thanboddhay Pagoda

    Luxurious devotion and 500,000 images of Buddha in Myanmar.

  • The Buddhist temple Wat Samphran (Dragon Temple).

    Khlong Mai, Thailand

    Wat Samphran Temple

    An enormous dragon scales the walls of this 17-story temple.

  • Luang Prabang, Laos

    Tham Sakkarin Savannakuha

    Abandoned limestone cave was once a sacred place of worship.

  • A closer look on the niche of the Great Buddha

    Bamyan, Afghanistan

    Site of the Bamiyan Buddhas

    Once an impressive link to Afghanistan’s Buddhist past, now a sad reminder of intolerance towards other cultures.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXiVVAVfiWw

    Nara, Japan

    Buddha's Nostril

    Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

  • Mawlamyine, Myanmar (Burma)

    Win Sein Taw Ya

    The world's largest reclining Buddha, the Giant Buddha of Mudon.

  • Nara, Japan

    Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

    This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.