We have been wanting to visit the Chiba Daibutsu at Nihon-ji for a while now. It is one of those sights that isn't in your guide book, and getting there from Tokyo is just enough of a hassle that it manages to remain crowd-free on the weekends. Last weekend was our chance.
A Daibutsu is a Giant Buddha. You may remember our visit to the Kamakura Daibutsu from last December. The Chiba Daibutsu is three times as big as the Kamakura Daibutsu, and is carved in the side of a mountain.
Getting there is the major obstacle. We took a train from Tokyo to Kurihama, a ferry across Tokyo Bay, and then a cable car up the mountain to reach the temple complex. The trip itself was a little adventure, and we were treated to beautiful views of Tokyo Bay from the cable car.
Once you enter the temple compound, you follow trails to reach each of the temple areas. The compound is beautiful, surrounded by cliff walls. This is the narrow path to reach the first sight - Hyakushaku-Kannon, a Buddha relief carved into the cliff wall.
On the other side of the temple is the Daibutsu. This was our first glimpse of him as we rounded the corner.
Visitors buy little Buddhas to leave by the Daibutsu (we think of it like lighting a candle at a Catholic church).
Yet another part of the temple features smaller Buddhas - but lots of them. They sit in the nooks and crannies of the cliffs. I'm not sure if it is how they are carved or the effects of the weather, but they look really creepy. Not my favorite stop.
As luck would have it, when we got back into the town where we needed to catch the ferry back, they were having a little festival.
1 comment:
that place looks amazing. the pic of you on the cliff makes my heart skip a beat!
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