Seeing a big Buddha in Nanzoin (南蔵院) Temple, Sasaguri, Fukuoka

Taking on National Route 201 from Iizuka and passing some gentle curves, we arrived to Nanzoin Temple in Sasaguri. The temple has several sightseeing spots in the center of the main hall, such as an 11 meter Acala, a seven meter Fudo Waterfall which is a place for nun training, a 500 rakan or Buddha images showing his emotional expressions. The most interesting one is the huge lying down Buddha statue. Completed in 1995, it is the biggest bronze Buddhist statues in the world.

We stopped our car in the parking lot of JR Kido Nanzoin-mae Station (城戸南蔵院前駅 -eki) on Sasaguri Line first, then walked through a sidewalk to the temple.

Passing through some souvenir shops and going up some gentle slopes, finally we've seen to the entrance of Nanzoin Temple. 

Maneki-neko or an welcoming cat in front of the main entrance. Making our good luck to ring the bell by pulling a rope.

The Hichifukujin (the seven lucky gods) Tunnel is the easiest way to go to the huge Buddha statue. As the name suggests, the seven gods are enshrined in the middle of the tunnel. The reason is the presence of chief priest Hayashi who won the Takarakuji (宝くじ) national lottery many times, that's why he made such images inside the tunnel.

After coming out from the tunnel and walking up a gentle slope little, finally we got into big Buddha.

According to the official site (in Japanese), the statue is proud to be the world's largest as the bronze, it's 300 ton of his body weight. And it seems to be the same size as that of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

A curved pattern, so-called "Buddha's foot", has been engraved on the foot. Worshipers are paid a coin as offertory here as well. They put his foot into it.