Takaoka Daibutsu

The statue is a symbol of Takaoka, Japan’s top producer of copperware. The 16m-tall Amida Nyorai statue was built with the best copper-making skills of the locals. It is counted into Japan’s Three Great Buddha Statues. For the stately facial features, it is also called “Japan’s Best-Looking man.”

Takaoka Daibutsu is a Buddha statue on Daibutsu Temple’s ground, which was built about 800 years ago. Through repeated desolations and fire damages, it was always built back and stands as it is today. After sunset, it is lit up for a dreamy effect.

Takaoka Daibutsu is said to have originated from a wooden Buddha statue built on Mt. Futagami to the northwest of Takaoka city when Minamoto no Yoshikatsu left Jokyu War and became a monk. In 1609, the 2nd lord of Kaga Domain, Toshinaga Maeda, moved the statue to the current location. The statue deteriorated over the years, until the 15th Reverend Toyo was saddened by the sorry state and rebuilt a golden wooden Buddha statue. The current statue was rebuilt in 1933. The first and the second ones got burnt in fire, so, it was made with bronze.

Below the seat Takaoka Daibutsu sits on, Amida Triads and other Buddha statues are kept and you can visit them. In the hallway, 13 Buddha paintings are hung, which canvases were made from a giant cedar worshipped as Takaoka’s holy tree.