Fukuoka Japan is home to Nanzoin a large Buddhist temple complex with a rich history. The highlight of Nanzoin is the reclining buddha but there are other various points of interest in the sprawling place of prayer on the side of a mountain in Kyushu.
Reclining Buddha
The large bronze buddha statue weighs 400 tons, has a length of 41 meters and a height of 11 meters. This makes the reclining buddha one of the largest bronze statues in the world. When anti-Buddhism sentiment rose in Japan the statue was ordered destroyed but was saved by the locals and moved to its present home.
Self Serve Temple Stamp
The stewards of Nanzoin welcome visitors but are eager to remind them that it is a place of worship, not a sightseeing spot. It was my first time collecting a goshuin (stamp) at a temple that was self serve. There was a special area with labeled stamps and instructions on how to acquire the goshuin – this easily made it one of the more memorable stamps in my growing stamp collection.
For more information about Nanzoin Temple and the Reclining Buddha visit their website at Nanzoin.net
