Chorakuji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple of the Koyasan Shingon school located in Kami Town, Mikata District, Hyogo Prefecture. With a history of approximately 1,200 years, the temple is also known as the home of the Tajima Great Buddha, a remarkable collection of enormous wooden Buddha statues. The temple’s mountain name is Kawaaizan, and its principal object of worship is Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha.
The temple’s Great Buddha Hall houses three monumental wooden statues whose impressive scale and radiant gold-leaf surfaces create a powerful impression. Surrounded by grand temple buildings, including a monumental main gate and a five-story pagoda, Chorakuji offers visitors a striking encounter with Japanese Buddhist art, architecture, and religious devotion.
The Great Buddha Hall contains three enormous seated wooden Buddhas, each with a height of approximately 15 meters or more. The central statue, representing Shakyamuni Buddha, is especially impressive. Its height is 15.8 meters, and the total height including the halo, pedestal, and lotus seat reaches 25.3 meters, making it one of the world’s largest wooden seated Buddha statues.
The three statues were created in China over a period of three years by more than 20,000 Buddhist sculptors and craftsmen, then transported to Japan and assembled inside the hall. Carved using a joined-block technique from camphor wood, the statues are covered with approximately 1.32 million sheets of gold leaf, weighing a total of 21.8 kilograms. Their golden surfaces shimmer in the light, while their serene expressions convey compassion and tranquility.
The central statue depicts Shakyamuni Buddha, the Buddha who attained enlightenment. The statue on the left represents Amida Buddha, associated with the Western Pure Land, while the statue on the right represents Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha. Each has distinctive features, yet all three gaze out with a calm, benevolent expression.
The origins of Chorakuji are traditionally traced to the Tenpyo era (729–749) during the Nara period. The temple is said to have been founded by the Buddhist monk Gyoki and was originally known as Yoka-san Yakushiji. It was revived during the Sengoku period, and the temple later acquired its present name.
Repeated fires from the Edo period through the Meiji period destroyed many of the temple’s older buildings and cultural treasures. The magnificent temple complex seen today, including its Great Buddha Hall and monumental statues, was reconstructed in the early Heisei era through donations from Kiyoshi Tada, the founder of Sogo Taxi. A consecration ceremony for the statues was held in 1994.
The temple’s reconstruction brought renewed attention to its Buddhist heritage and created the impressive complex that visitors can explore today.
The Great Buddha Hall is a monumental structure that combines modern engineering with traditional Japanese architectural aesthetics. Built in a multi-story, hip-and-gable style, the building stands approximately 40 meters tall and measures 55 meters across the front and 36 meters deep.
Two golden shachihoko roof ornaments, each measuring 2.7 meters in height and weighing approximately 1.1 metric tons, adorn the roof. Each ornament is covered with around 18,000 sheets of gold leaf, making them striking features of the temple skyline.
Inside, the three walls surrounding the main statues display 806 stone Buddha figures. Each figure is individually handcrafted and has its own distinctive expression. These statues are objects of prayer for visitors, and the temple’s plan calls for the eventual installation of 1,200 stone Buddhas.
Chorakuji’s five-story pagoda stands 70 meters tall and is described as Japan’s second-tallest pagoda, after the 75-meter pagoda at Echizen Daibutsu. Its towering silhouette is one of the defining features of the temple grounds.
The interior levels contain marble and gold-leaf Buddha figures, including 51 statues in total. The uppermost level enshrines a triad consisting of Shakyamuni Buddha, Dainichi Nyorai, and Amida Buddha. The pagoda also offers impressive views of the surrounding mountains and the river flowing through the landscape below.
The temple’s Great Gate is an impressive example of traditional Japanese wooden architecture. Its copper-tiled roof is supported by beautifully crafted cypress bracket complexes, highlighting the skill of traditional temple carpentry.
Standing guard on either side of the gate are two colossal wooden statues of the Nio guardian kings. The statue of Agyo stands 8.2 meters tall and weighs approximately 9.5 metric tons, while Ungyo stands 8.4 meters tall and weighs around 10 metric tons. Carved from joined blocks of camphor wood and finished with vivid colors, these powerful figures symbolize the beginning and end of all things and protect the sacred temple grounds.
Located north of the Great Buddha Hall, Yakushido serves as Chorakuji’s main hall. Its principal deity is Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, traditionally associated with healing and the alleviation of suffering.
According to temple tradition, the original principal statue was carved by Gyoki himself but was lost in one of the many fires that damaged the temple. The current principal image is treated as a hidden Buddha, normally kept inside a sanctuary cabinet and revealed to the public only once every seven years, for a period of ten days.
A covered corridor approximately 100 meters long connects the Great Gate with the Great Buddha Hall. Its long rows of columns create an elegant architectural passage through the temple grounds.
The corridor features zelkova columns measuring 42 centimeters in diameter, along with cypress eaves and ceilings that preserve the fragrance of natural wood. Built entirely with traditional timber construction techniques, the corridor uses no nails, demonstrating the craftsmanship of historic Japanese carpentry.
The Benzaiten Hall enshrines Shichimi Benzaiten, one of the Seven Benzaiten deities of the Tajima region. Benzaiten is widely worshipped as a deity associated with water, fertility, creativity, and the nurturing of life.
The hall stands in a picturesque setting resembling a small pavilion floating above the water. Its tranquil atmosphere makes it a meaningful place for visitors to pause, reflect, and observe the spiritual traditions that continue to shape the temple.
Yakushido (Main Hall): Enshrines the hidden image of Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha.
Great Buddha Hall: Measures 55 meters across, 36 meters deep, and 40 meters high. It houses the three monumental wooden statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai, and Amida Buddha.
Five-Story Pagoda: A 70-meter-high pagoda containing Buddhist statues and offering views of the surrounding mountains and river.
Great Gate: A traditional hip-and-gable gate guarded by two colossal Nio statues, each standing more than eight meters tall.
Benzaiten Hall: Dedicated to Shichimi Benzaiten, a water deity worshipped as one of the Seven Benzaiten of Tajima.
Bell Tower: Located on a platform beside the main hall, this is the only surviving older building within the temple complex.
Temple Quarters (Kuri): The living and working quarters of the temple, forming part of the complex that welcomes visitors to Chorakuji.
Chorakuji Temple combines the spiritual atmosphere of an ancient Buddhist sanctuary with the extraordinary scale of its modern monumental statues. From the golden Buddhas in the Great Buddha Hall to the towering five-story pagoda, the imposing guardian figures at the main gate, and the elegant wooden corridor, each structure reveals a different aspect of Japanese Buddhist culture and craftsmanship.
For travelers exploring northern Hyogo Prefecture, a visit to the Tajima Great Buddha offers a memorable opportunity to appreciate monumental religious art, traditional architecture, and the enduring role of Buddhist faith in the region.