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Oct 08 2009 19 Comments

Ibaraki’s really big Buddha

The far more famous Kamakura Daibutsu (big Buddha) may well have more history, character and aesthetic merit, but when it comes to sheer and surely insurmountable size, the Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki Prefecture is patently unparalleled.

As, not only is it big.

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

It’s absolutely bloody enormous.

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

An almost unbelievable 120 metres including its base big in fact.

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

A behemoth that was built during the heady days of the bubble, meaning its like will probably never be seen again — or at least not in the near future. Which, in many ways is a pity, as the way it towers over nearby fields,

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

farms,

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

and little old ladies who once worked in those fields and farms,

Ushiku Daibutsu (big Buddha)

is utterly fascinating.

(As an added bonus of sorts, here are a couple of pictures of the colossus while under construction. This one showing the the structure’s gradual completion, and my personal favourite, an almost Dali-esque piecing together of its head.)

Categorized: Photography, Religion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jonathan says

    10/8/2009 at 6:27 pm

    Absolutely astounding Lee, especially the last one 🙂

    Reply
  2. dans says

    10/8/2009 at 7:03 pm

    Nice shots ! The last one is very nice.

    Reply
  3. sixmats says

    10/8/2009 at 7:25 pm

    A third for the last one. Nice capture.

    Reply
  4. Andy Yu says

    10/8/2009 at 7:51 pm

    Love the first shot. Did you use a polarising filter at all to get the sky so blue?

    Reply
  5. Lee says

    10/8/2009 at 8:18 pm

    Thanks!

    Really wanted a different shot than the usual ones, so we drove around to try and find some different angles/views, and luckily the old lady came walking up the path, gifting me an interesting picture.

    No filter Andy, it was just a really beautiful day. Especially lucky considering the subject matter. Definitely wouldn’t have been the same with a grey or cloudy background.

    Reply
  6. Daniel J Hamlow says

    10/8/2009 at 9:40 pm

    Yes, I went to Ushiku three years ago. The Buddha’s an impressive sight. By the way, this day make an appearance in the movie Shimotsuma Monogatari starring Fukada Kyoko and Anna Tsuchiya.

    It’s only a 25 minute bus ride from JR Ushiku Station to Ushiku Jouen. And you won’t be able to miss it!

    Reply
  7. Tony says

    10/8/2009 at 9:59 pm

    great photos i love the site. its the closest i can get to japan without spending a hefty price on airfare. looking forward to your next entry.

    Reply
  8. fritz says

    10/9/2009 at 9:19 pm

    great shots, especially the first one! how can I see this thing for myself, or rather, how do I get there?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/10/2009 at 1:17 pm

      Thanks fritz. By car it’s easy as there’s an expressway exit fairly nearby, and then it’s (reasonably) well signposted. And by public transport, there’s a link here with details.

      Reply
  9. Ortwin Oberhauser says

    10/10/2009 at 3:13 am

    Wow cool, absolutely astounding photos!

    Reply
  10. Tornadoes28 says

    10/10/2009 at 12:29 pm

    That’s pretty cool. I have not visited the statue but I have seen it driving by on my way from Narita to Tochigi, similar to your picture of the statue behind the tree covered hill.

    Reply
  11. The Envoy says

    10/10/2009 at 9:29 pm

    This brings to mind the statue of Guan Yin on Hainan Island.

    Reply
  12. Joshua says

    10/11/2009 at 12:45 am

    hey lee,

    i’ve been reading your blog for a while now and i’ve always loved the shots you take!

    I do a bit of photography myself and was just wondering what lens did you use to take the last picture in this post?

    thanks and keep up the good work!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/11/2009 at 10:52 am

      The last one was taken with the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 Joshua. An absolute cracker of a lens. Pricey, but worth every last penny.

      Reply
  13. Lowongan says

    10/11/2009 at 10:16 am

    Fantastic Lee …
    I like the first & the last shot … very inspiring 🙂

    Reply
  14. Lee says

    10/11/2009 at 10:50 am

    Thanks again for the kind comments!

    Reply
  15. kim says

    10/17/2009 at 1:34 pm

    nice fokus, nikkon ::a little pricey::

    xdd

    did u use MF instead of AF ? xdd

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/17/2009 at 10:04 pm

      Yeah, they are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Well, at least most of the time!

      Have to admit they are all AF. I don’t think I’m skillful enough to start dabbling with MF…

      Reply
  16. kim says

    10/18/2009 at 6:08 pm

    oh i was using Olympus E-420 but my friend told me Nikkon a bit late with technology like dust reduction system…just hold this about 2 months for photography lesson in my college, haha, XDD

    n with AF, I think I can’t always focuses at thing that I want to, hehe, XDD

    Reply

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