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- The Great Buddha of Nagoya at Toganji Temple
The Great Buddha of Nagoya at Toganji Temple
A historic temple straight out of antiquity
Toganji is a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect founded in the 1500s by lord of Suemori Castle Oda Nobuyuki in memory of his father Nobuhide and borrows the "Togan" in Nobuhide's posthumous Buddhist name. The temple is said to have moved to its present location in 1712 or 1714.
The main deity worshipped here is the bodhisattva Kannon, with a statue said to have been created by monk Eshin Sozu. There is also a picture of goddess Benzaiten said to have belonged to Nobuhide. Also of interest is a statue of the 15 child servants of Benzaiten, transferred to the temple from far away Chikubu Island, and protectors of the temple.
Vibrant green Great Buddha—the Great Buddha of Nagoya
You certainly can't miss the giant statue of the Buddha, with a height of 10 meters and on a platform 5 meters in height and 15 meters in length. The statue was made from bronze by Buddhist sculptor Nagata Seizan. While the Buddha is typically depicted atop a lotus flower, the Great Nagoya Buddha is supported by 10 elephants. His body is painted a vivid green with gold foil on his eyes, lips, ears, and other areas.
The biggest wooden temple drum, Sleeping Benzaiten, and so much more
There is plenty to see at the temple, such as a naked Benzaiten, jubilant Buddha, and wooden temple drum with a diameter of 1 meter. The wooden temple drum boasts a status as the largest in Japan and is made from a 100-year-old camphor tree. Just touching it with a hand is said to do away with bad karma. A Sleeping Benzaiten is also exhibited twice a year.
SPOT OVERVIEW
| Location | 〒464-0819 2-16 Yotsuya-dori, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi |
|---|---|
| Fee | Free of charge (JPY 1,000 to view the Sleeping Benzaiten) Notes: • Prices are subject to change. Check the official site, etc. for the most up-to-date information. |
| Opening days / hours | Summer: 9:00 am–6:00 pm Winter: 9:00 am–5:00 pm |
| Parking | Unavailable |
| Restrooms | Available |
| Holidays | None |
| Phone number | 052-781-1427 |
Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.
Barrier-free information
ACCESS
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- Access by public transport
- From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama Subway Line. Get off at Motoyama Station and walk 3 min. south from Exit 6.
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