A fresh-air getaway just 20 minutes by train from Fukuoka’s central Hakata Station
One joy of Japan? By train, it’s easy to take a break from the city and head out into green spaces and fresh air. A Nanzoin day trip from Fukuoka to the Great Reclining Buddha statue isn’t just an attraction all on its own. Hillside paths, shrines, and more surround Japan’s largest reclining Buddha statue.
And from the heart of Fukuoka itself, you can be there in about 20 minutes by train.
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Much more than just the Buddha, especially when visiting with kids
Yet when we consider the Nanzoin Buddha, it’s a little like Thanksgiving dinner in the USA. The Nanzoin Buddha is like the roast turkey. It’s the main event, and everything else centers on it.
Really, you come for the side dishes, the things around the turkey. That makes it even more worthwhile.
The Nanzoin Buddha is similar. Yes, you come for the Buddha, and it is an amazing sight to experience for yourself.
But what really makes it worthwhile? The fresh air, the quiet streets of the small town of Sasaguri, the tantalizing aromas of foods such as roasted sweet potatoes, and the green space of the hillside Nanzoin temple grounds.
In this guide, we’ll lay out some nuts and bolts of getting to and experiencing not just Fukuoka’s Nanzoin Buddha, but the grounds and other attractions around the statue itself, based on our experience visiting as a family of four, with a tween, a teen, and a person with a mobility disability.
More on rules, fees, and details about visiting the Nanzoin Buddha
Getting there: Hakata Station to Nanzoin by train
The hardest part of getting to the Nanzoin Buddha is figuring out the pronunciation of the train station where you arrive.
Visiting the statue is about a half-day trip overall, including at least a couple of hours around the temple grounds. You can slot it in first thing in the morning, after a quick breakfast. Or, enjoy some time in the city that morning, head out around mid- or late-morning, spend a few hours, and return later in the afternoon.
From Fukuoka’s Hakata Station, the Nanzoin Buddha in Sasaguri is about a 20-minute ride on the JR Fukuhoku-Yutaka Line to Kido-Nanzoin-mae Station. (Plus, Hakata Station will be your go-to for other Fukuoka day trips by train.)
As for that pronunciation? It’s essentially “kee-doh nan-zo-een my-ay.”
Hint: Chikuzen-Yamate Station is the last station before you exit the train at Kido-Nanzoin-mae Station. After you pass through Chikuzen-Yamate Station, look through the windows on the left side of the train. As you get closer to Sasaguri, you can catch glimpses of the Buddha statue.
From Kido-Nanzoin-mae Station, signs point the way to the grounds of the Buddha. This stroll through part of the town takes about 10 minutes. There’ll be some narrow sidewalks, light traffic through some intersections and crosswalks, and some uphill going.
However, after the bustle of Fukuoka, you’ll be in a quiet town with narrow streets. One of the first things you’ll likely notice as you exit the station? Fresh air, with a hint of forest. Maybe some roasted sweet potatoes from stalls near the train station.
The reclining Buddha
Why take a Nanzoin day trip from Fukuoka? The forested hillside setting is restorative. It’s nice to take a break from big cities.
But you definitely day trip out to the Nanzoin Buddha because it’s an amazing sight.
Amazing, yes, but not ancient. The hillside has had a temple and artifacts for centuries. While the Buddha already has a green, weathered patina, the statue’s construction finished only in 1995.
From when we visited, our understanding is that the head abbot, Kakujo Hayashi, won the equivalent of about a million US dollars. What better use for a chunk of the money, of course, than 300 tons of bronze?
The result is the 41-meter (135 feet) statue we can visit today. The Buddha statue has become an attraction for the entire town and temple area. More than that, the Buddha statue is a reminder that not everything worthwhile and traditional in Japan is ancient. And it doesn’t have to be. It can be new (or at least new-ish) and still deserve our attention and appreciation.
Hint: At the Buddha plaza itself, you can find materials in different languages, and official staff guides speak various languages, including English. They are happy to answer questions about the Buddha, and they know the best spots for family photos.
Why is the Buddha reclining?
You can find reclining Buddhas throughout the Buddhist world. The best known is probably the 46m (151 ft) reclining Buddha at Wat Po in Bangkok, Thailand. While we might associate the lying-on-one-side, head-propped-on-a-hand pose more with stretching out to watch TV or chat with someone on a picnic blanket, the meaning in Buddha statues is quite different.
The form of the reclining Buddha represents the Buddha’s end of physical life. It’s when the Buddha, who has been ill physically, attains ultimate enlightenment. The pose symbolizes when physical suffering ends, and a being transcends not only desire and suffering, but the entire worldly cycle of death and rebirth.
What it’s like to be there
Being at the Buddha, amidst the sloping hillside and tall trees, there’s a quiet that comes in even amid other visitors. The state of mind, body, and soul that the statue represents can speak to anyone, regardless of faith or belief. After all, the awe of the statue is that we strive to handle life’s difficulties as best we can, and hold on to the hope of rising above them.
The statue’s scale can make you feel small. It also inspires. After all, death is a big moment. So is the idea that we can have a moment when the world’s toils and sufferings fall away, then cease to have any grip on us at all.
Beyond the Buddha: The hillside
As awe-inspiring as the statue is, it’s not what you first get to. Nor is it even a one-and-done experience. Ultimately, being here is about not just the statue, but all the paths, nooks, and small areas scattered all over the hillside.
Visiting with kids
Let’s get a couple of things straight, though, my fellow parents: The Nanzoin Buddha temple area and grounds are a spiritual space, considered important to people’s beliefs throughout Japan and beyond. Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting Nanzoin with kids.
Kids are more than welcome at the Nanzoin Buddha temple and grounds. In fact, the day we visited, one end of the Buddha statue plaza, on the opposite corner from the Buddha’s feet, offered games and activities for children.
How to prioritize: Buddha first, then whatever takes your fancy
When you arrive at the main temple area, consider heading straight to the Nanzoin Buddha itself. Since it’s the principal attraction, if you visit it first, while you’re fresh, and know that you’ve gotten to check out the main reason you came here.
From there, talk over different areas, or see what catches people’s attention in your group. Once you’ve seen the Nanzoin Buddha, you can go more free-form on where you go, or ask a guide around the statue for recommendations on what’s a good fit for your family.
Quiet and calm are expected
While there is nature and trails, the temple grounds are not a space to let your kids run wild and free. There is an expectation that all visitors—kids and adults—are respectful and maintain appropriate quiet.
Usually in Japan, there is a “read the room” expectation. Observe the people around you, then try to match their overall tone and volume.
A good rule of thumb? Usually, the areas around any shrine or statue are especially sacred, and respectful quiet is expected.
Terrain
Temple areas are open and spacious, though the lush green hillside forest surrounds you. Depending on the season, the woods might bring spring leaves, summer flowers, fall colors, or the calm of winter, each with its own sounds, sights, and smells to check out. When we visited, winter rains had brought out the refreshing, softly sharp scents of cedar and cypress.
Paved and natural paths weave throughout the grounds. Main paths are paved or made with natural stone. The flat areas are pretty easy to get around. There will be stairs, especially at the main entry area to get to the Nanzoin Buddha statue itself.
Off the main plazas and paths, you can find offshoot trails. Some weave the forest. Others go to specific small shrines or other sacred areas. These are likely to be steep and winding, and may be natural surfaces.
Fun things to watch out for (with kids or not)
A sacred space doesn’t mean a serious, stodgy one. From our experience, the Nanzoin Buddha grounds held an air of reverence with a hint of playfulness. Maybe it was the crisp winter air, but the space struck us as two parts somber and one part whimsical, like someone holding a serious expression to look at you, then winking and giving a slight smile.
Whimsical touches pop up throughout the grounds. Some vary by the day, event, circumstance, or season. For example, during our winter visit, red knitted hats and scarves adorned many of the small stone statues.
Some shrine areas have a bell on a pull rope. Naturally, this isn’t meant to be clanged about with abandon. If you observe how others use the bell, though, you and your kids are welcome to do the same.
One fun feature of the Nanzoin Buddha grounds? All around the hillside, you can find shrines dedicated to your specific sign under the Japanese zodiac.
A paved path that approaches the Nanzoin Buddha teems with frogs. Not the ribbitting, hopping variety, but a line of statues (possibly wearing hats depending on the season), shaped as frogs in “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” poses.
Above all, remember, the Nanzoin Buddha temple isn’t just a tourist attraction. The Nanzoin Buddha temple and grounds are just as much a place of spiritual reflection and worship as a cathedral in Europe. There’s an expectation that visitors demonstrate respectful quiet.
However, the quiet touches throughout the grounds bring a smile. The kids and I found ourselves constantly on the lookout for the small things: a wayward knitted glove, the characters written on the Buddha’s foot, the tumble of water along a path going up to a small, out-of-the-way shrine near the edge of the forest.
Practical tips
Visiting this area from Fukuoka is pretty easy. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Visiting hours for the Buddha statue
The Buddha statue is only available for viewing between 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
Allow at least 4 hours, as a half-day visit from Fukuoka
Combined with train travel and walking times to and from the station, plus the time to explore the grounds, not to mention the snacks and souvenirs along the nearby Nakamise Street, you’ll want to allow at least 4 hours. This isn’t meant to be a quick-hit visit to check something off a list. Visiting the Nanzoin Buddha grounds is a chance to recharge amid fresh air and green space.
Wear sturdy walking shoes to handle the hillside terrain
People of all ages and abilities visit the Nanzoin Buddha and surrounding temple grounds. Typically, they’re wearing sturdy shoes that can handle the slopes and steps along this hillside temple.
Each season offers something different
Since the temple grounds are open year-round, you can always consider a Nanzoin day trip from Fukuoka. Each season will have its own considerations. Autumn colors on Kyushu can be spectacular, as can spring blossoms. Summer may offer some respite from city heat. Winter (when we visited) typically is a little calmer, but it’s best not to pack an expectation that you’ll have the place to yourself.
Fees, food, rules & more
Nanzoin is a religious site and has rules on dress, behavior, etc., that all visitors are expected to follow. For example, while there are areas along Nakamise Street where you can get food and drinks, temple rules don’t allow eating and drinking while walking.
There’s a 500-yen entry fee for foreign visitors over the age of 19.
Don’t bring large bags
While some attractions in Japan have on-site or nearby coin lockers for bags, Nanzoin and its nearby train station do not. You’ll want to leave large bags in Fukuoka (such as leaving them with hotel staff if you’ve checked out), or transfer them to your next destination in Japan.
Come for the green space and the amazing statue, stay for the calm and touches of joy
Wandering a hillside, breathing in the forest air, watching out for the whimsical touches that made us all smile: Our half-day trip to the Nanzoin Buddha was a highlight of our time in Fukuoka.
The Buddha statue anchors your visit with the chance to see one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world. However, it’s the small shrines, winding paths, and little details, combined with the convenience of a one-stop train ride from Fukuoka, that make this more than a quick stop and worthy of a true day trip outside of the city.
Our teen put it like this: “Daddy, I want to come back here just me so we can explore the paths and shrines all over the hillside.”
I’m right there with him, along with another opportunity to be before one of the world’s great statues, plus the chance to be outside, in the hills of Japan, with the people who matter most.
