The Handsome Buddha
”Daibutsu Takaoka” Buddha”

After Numerous Restoration the Temple Became What We See with Today

Takaoka Daibutsu (The Great Buddha) is counted as one of the three famous Daibutsu　in Japan along with the Nara Daibutsu and the Kamakura Daibutsu. The Takaoka Daibutsu was cast bronze in 1932, but the original was the wooden Buddha constructed by Yoshikatsu Minamoto at the foot of Mt. Futagami, located across Takaoka and Himi in 1221. . This Buddha was transferred to the present location by Toshinaga Maeda, the second feudal lord of Kaga in 1609 and has since gained popularity around the country known as the ”Great Buddha of Takaoka ”. Unfortunately Takaoka struggled with many fires. The Buddha was lost and restored every time and eventually, to prevent the loss of the symbol of Takaoka permanently, the bronze Buddha was made in 1933. In 1933 upon its completion, the famous poet Akiko Yosano had paid a visit, upon which she is said to have commented that he is more handsome than the one in Kamakura. The ”Handsome Buddha” still stands overlooking the town of Takaoka to this day.