What other travelers are saying about Nihon-ji Daibutsu, Kyonan
I visited Nihon-ji Temple on February 5 last year. The atmosphere was beautiful and worth the trip. The walk from Karamura Station was a bit long, but there were restaurants and souvenir shops along the way. The temple was crowded but easy to explore. Don’t forget to visit the souvenir shop in front of the temple—the snacks are delicious!
There are a couple options to get to this location. First being the Nihon-ji temple parking which is free and closest. Second is the Nokogiriyama parking, which farther away, short walk to the Daibutsu, but the return can be a trek. Last is the Nokogiriyama ropeway, lots of stairs. Great workout and great atmosphere. The air quality here is wonderful!
The Buddha is very impressive. It is definitely worth a visit. Depending what you would like to see and whether you want to challenge and walk up and down thousands of steps (literally), there are options. If you are only interested in seeing the giant Buddha and the temples, then my suggestion is to drive to the east entrance car where the Buddha is not too many steps away, then if you follow the path to the left, you can see the various temples too and with minimal steps.
This does mean you are not going to walk up and down all the steps and miss out on the statues dotted around the mountain, the view of hell from the top and the ropeway. The ropeway you can do separately by just going up and then down again without re-entering the temple.
700¥ Price to enter but was worth it.
Be prepared to do lots of steep climbing if you wish to see everything. Definitely a good workout. Beautiful scenery
Great historical shrine and story behind the Buddha.
Take the JR Uchibo Line from Tokyo Station to Hamakanaya Station, which takes approximately 90 minutes. From Hamakanaya, you can either ride the Nokogiri-yama Ropeway to the summit (about 4 minutes) or hike up the mountain trail, which takes 45 to 60 minutes. The ropeway station is a short walk from JR Hamakanaya Station.
Nihon-ji Daibutsu is Japan's largest pre-modern stone Buddha at 31 meters tall, making it the biggest stone-carved Buddha in the country. However, it is not the tallest Buddha overall—modern statues like Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki (120 meters) are significantly larger. The Nihon-ji statue's distinction lies in its traditional carving method and historical significance as an Edo-period monument.
Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the full temple complex. This allows time to see the Great Buddha, walk to the Hyaku-shaku Kannon cliff carving, visit the Jigoku Nozoki viewpoint, and explore the stone Rakan statues scattered throughout the grounds. The site involves considerable walking and stair climbing, so factor in your pace and fitness level.
Yes, on clear days Mount Fuji is visible from the Jigoku Nozoki (Hell Peek) observation point at the summit of Mount Nokogiri. This dramatic rocky outcrop also offers sweeping views of Tokyo Bay and the Boso Peninsula. Visibility is best during winter months and early mornings when atmospheric conditions are clearest, though Mount Fuji can be obscured by clouds or haze.
The site presents moderate accessibility challenges. While the ropeway eliminates the initial climb, the temple grounds feature numerous steep stone steps and uneven pathways between the Great Buddha, Kannon carving, and viewpoint. There are rest areas along the routes, but visitors should have reasonable mobility and stamina. Those with significant mobility limitations may find the terrain difficult despite ropeway access.
