Shakain, Buddhist temple in Yatsushiro, Japan

Shakain is a Buddhist temple in Yatsushiro reached by climbing 3,333 stone steps that lead to the main hall topped with a copper roof. The temple houses ancient Buddhist statues dating from the Heian and Kamakura periods.

Emperor Kanmu commissioned the temple's construction after a monk named Shouzen-dai-shi's prayers reportedly aided the ruler's recovery from illness. The temple thus originated from both imperial authority and spiritual healing.

The temple is nicknamed "Pokkuri-ji" because, according to belief, worshipping here prevents long illness. Every year on 8 April, the Hana Matsuri flower festival for Buddha's birthday draws many pilgrims. A wooden seated figure of a monk, kept at the temple, bears an ink inscription dated 1242 that already names Shakain.

The 3,333-step approach from Misato, the Sakaishi slope, is 2.9 km long and was finished in 1988; the temple itself stands near the summit of Mount Daigyoji at 957 m. The steps are made of stone from Kumamoto and from China, Korea, India, Russia, the USA, Brazil and South Africa. Parking is available; by bus, take the Kumamoto bus to Koshi and the Aso Kotsu Hikawa line to Sakamoto-ishidan-mae, then walk 5 minutes.

The 3,333-step stone stairway built between 1980 and 1988 was a town-promotion project of the former Chuo town, timed to then-governor Morihiro Hosokawa's "Japan Number One" campaign. It surpassed the 2,446 steps of Mount Haguro in Yamagata and runs 2.9 km. Its stones come from many countries, including China, Korea, India, Russia, the USA, Brazil and South Africa.