Shin-daibutsu-ji, Buddhist temple in Iga, Japan
Shin-daibutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Iga that houses a wooden Nyorai Buddha statue over 4 meters long, created by Buddhist priest Kaikei. The grounds include sixteen consecutive climbing kilns dating from the temple's founding period.
The temple was established during the Kamakura period and served as a reference for reconstructing the Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple. Its founding period marked an important moment in Japanese Buddhist architecture and art history.
The temple houses artwork that reflects centuries of Japanese Buddhist tradition and shows how religious devotion connected with skilled craftsmanship. A monument to the famous poet Matsuo Basho stands on the grounds and reminds visitors of this region's literary connections.
The temple is accessible from Iga Kobe Station, and visitors can book guided tours that combine visits to traditional pottery workshops and kumihimo braiding demonstrations. The grounds offer a good overview of traditional crafts closely tied to this religious site.
The sixteen kilns on the grounds reveal a remarkable feature: the temple integrated religious practice with pottery production in a way that is rarely documented elsewhere. This merging of craft and spirituality offers insights into daily life during the Kamakura period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
