Seiryū-ji, Buddhist temple in Aomori, Japan
Seiryū-ji is a Kōyasan Betsuin temple in Aomori whose grounds hold the Shōwa Daibutsu, a 21.35-metre seated bronze Dainichi Nyorai weighing 220 tonnes. Its Kondō hall, completed in 1992, enshrines a Dainichi Nyorai image and a painting of Amida's welcoming descent. Beside it stands a 39-metre five-storey pagoda finished in 1996, built of Aomori hiba wood by shrine carpenter Ōmuro Katsushirō.
Seiryū-ji is a Kōyasan Betsuin founded by Great Acharya Ryūkō Oda, who later raised funds to build the Shōwa Daibutsu, a 21.35-meter seated bronze Buddha consecrated on 30 September 1984. The temple originated as a Kōyasan affiliate in Aomori's Chayamachi district before relocating to its present site. Its main hall was completed in October 1992, the five-story pagoda in October 1996, and the Kōyasan Aomori Betsuin main hall in June 1998.
The temple functions as an active spiritual hub where visitors observe monks carrying out daily religious practices. The presence of devoted practitioners gives the space a lived-in quality beyond its architectural features.
The temple is open daily from 8:00 to 17:30 with no closing days. It lies in the outskirts of Aomori, surrounded by farmland. From Aomori Station, take the Aomori city bus bound for Shōwa Daibutsu and get off at the final stop, Shōwa Daibutsu.
The Shōwa Daibutsu, a seated bronze Dainichi Nyorai, was consecrated on 30 September 1984. At 21.35 metres and 220 tonnes, it is Japan's largest seated bronze Buddha. Visitors may enter the pedestal, where shoes must be removed, and see paintings of the six realms of reincarnation.
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