Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki｜World’s Tallest Bronze Buddha and How It Was Built

Ushiku Daibutsu – One of the Tallest Statues in the World

Ushiku Daibutsu is a towering bronze Buddha statue located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Standing at a total height of 120 meters, it ranks as the 6th tallest statue in the world, and it is the tallest bronze standing statue on Earth.

The statue was built by the Higashi Honganji (Shinran school of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism) and is situated within a peaceful complex known as Jodo Garden, which also includes a small animal park, seasonal flower gardens, and the Ushiku Cemetery.

Inside the statue, an elevator takes visitors up to an observation deck.
From there, you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

The entire site covers a vast area of 370,000 square meters. In the petting zoo, you can feed and interact with small animals, and the gardens are filled with beautiful seasonal flowers—poppies and baby’s breath in spring, peonies and hydrangeas in summer, and vibrant cosmos in autumn.

Why Was Ushiku Daibutsu Built?

Many visitors wonder why such a massive statue exists in Ibaraki.
Ushiku Daibutsu was built to commemorate Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, who used the area as a key center for spreading his teachings throughout the Kanto region.

Construction took 10 years and was completed in 1993 (Heisei 4).
The project was commissioned by the Higashi Honganji school as a symbol of faith and peace for future generations.

How Was It Built?

The statue was constructed using the curtain wall construction method, commonly used in high-rise buildings.
This method involves attaching bronze panels to a steel framework in a suspended structure.

Thanks to this innovative technique, Ushiku Daibutsu stands not only as a religious icon, but also as a marvel of modern Japanese engineering.

📍 Whether you're into architecture, spirituality, or giant roadside attractions — Ushiku Daibutsu is one of Japan’s most impressive landmarks worth seeing in person.