Ryōzen-ji, Buddhist temple in Kunisaki Peninsula, Japan
Ryōzen-ji is a Buddhist temple built along a cliff face, featuring stone-carved Buddha statues and multiple caves integrated into the natural rock formations. The structures use these caves and carved spaces for worship and spiritual practice.
The temple was founded in the 13th century by Buddhist monk Engan Shōgaku, who established it as a spiritual center in the Oita region. This origin shaped its role as a place of learning and worship for centuries afterward.
The temple blends Buddhist and Shinto elements into a single spiritual space, reflecting how Japanese religious traditions have coexisted for centuries. You can see this fusion in how the buildings are arranged and decorated throughout the grounds.
The temple grounds can be accessed by chairlift or stone stairs, with no entry fee required and daytime access available year-round. The chairlift is helpful if the stairs feel too steep, though both routes offer different views of the site.
The temple houses over 3,700 stone-carved Buddha statues within its caves, one of the largest collections of Buddhist stone carvings in Japan. These statues were left over many generations by visitors as expressions of their faith and devotion.
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