Nanzo-in, Buddhist temple in Sasaguri, Japan
Nanzo-in is a Buddhist temple in Toshima-ku that houses the largest reclining Buddha statue made of bronze, measuring 41 meters long and 11 meters tall. The statue occupies the central space of the temple and dominates the visitor hall with its immense size.
The temple moved from Mount Koya to Sasaguri in 1899 after the local community resisted anti-Buddhist policies of the Meiji period. This relocation helped the temple survive and eventually become an important spiritual center.
The temple houses sand from all 88 shrines of the Shikoku pilgrimage route, symbolizing connections to sacred sites across the country. Visitors can walk through this collection and experience the link to distant spiritual places.
The grounds are easily accessible by public transport and open daily for visitors. Most travelers arrive in the morning and have plenty of time to explore the entire property.
The temple received sacred ashes of Gautama Buddha from Myanmar in 1988 as recognition for its humanitarian support to children in Myanmar and Nepal. This relic made it a rare place of worship outside Asia and attracts pilgrims seeking this spiritual connection.
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