Daibutsu

The Hyogo Daibutsu is the giant Buddha figure that sits in the Nofukuji temple complex near JR-Hyogo station. During the Second World War, it was removed and melted down to be used to manufacture weapons but was restored and replaced in 1991. It’s also famous (in my eyes) for being the most boring and uninspiring tourist attraction I’ve ever seen. Zero atmosphere, zero presence: it’s just big. Even if it costs 500 yen and is a bitch to get to, the one in Nara is better by a scale of about a billion.

Go marvel at the beautiful grass at Kobe Wing Stadium instead.

Posted in Japan on Monday October 10, 2005.