Fukukai-ji

Fukukai-ji is a Buddhist temple located next to the Hyogo Daibutsu statue in Hyogo Prefecture. The main hall, called Tsukinowa-eiden, was built in 1953 after the original structure was destroyed.

The temple was founded in 805 by Saichō, a Tendai sect monk who placed a statue of Yakushi Nyorai that he had carved into the hall. After suffering severe damage in the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, the entire structure was rebuilt in 1997.

This temple serves as a stop on the Shin-saigoku Pilgrimage, a religious route that connects Buddhist communities across the region. Visitors experience how pilgrimage traditions continue to shape the spiritual life of those who journey through here.

The temple is easy to find and sits directly next to the region's large Buddha statue. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the grounds are spread across multiple levels with several pathways to explore.

A nearby statue called the Hyogo Daibutsu was rebuilt in 1991 and immediately catches the eye. This imposing figure standing next to the temple often draws more attention from visitors than the temple's own spiritual heritage.