Seiryu-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple and the Aomori branch temple of Koyasan, located in the countryside on the outskirts of Aomori City. It attracts worshippers and visitors from Japan and abroad with its impressive temple buildings, peaceful natural surroundings, and the enormous Showa Great Buddha.
The temple grounds are home to the Showa Great Buddha, a monumental bronze seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana), as well as a 39-meter-high wooden five-story pagoda. Surrounded by greenery and rural scenery, Seiryu-ji offers a tranquil setting where visitors can experience Buddhist architecture and culture away from the bustle of the city.
The Showa Great Buddha is a bronze statue of Dainichi Nyorai that was unveiled on September 30, 1984. The statue itself stands 21.35 meters tall, while its total height including the pedestal reaches approximately 27 meters. It weighs around 220 tons.
According to the temple, it is the tallest seated bronze Buddha statue in Japan, exceeding the height of the famous Great Buddha of Nara in this category. Its enormous scale makes it the most striking landmark within the temple grounds.
The statue was created based on teachings represented by the Womb Realm Mandala. Dainichi Nyorai is positioned at the center, surrounded by representations of four Buddhas—Hoto, Kaifuke, Muryoju, and Tenkuraion—and four bodhisattvas, including Fugen, Monju, Kannon, and Miroku.
Inside the statue is an illustration representing the Six Realms of Rebirth, a Buddhist concept describing the various realms into which beings may be reborn according to Buddhist teachings. Visitors can also view parts of the interior up to the second level, offering a closer encounter with the Buddhist worldview behind the monument.
The Main Hall, or Kondo, stands directly ahead as visitors enter the temple grounds. The present building was completed in 1992 and is beautifully constructed primarily from Aomori hiba cypress, a highly valued local timber known for its durability and distinctive fragrance.
The principal image of worship is Dainichi Nyorai. The temple also preserves valuable Buddhist artworks and treasures, including the Amida Shōjū Raigō Daiezu, a large painting depicting Amida Buddha and his attendants welcoming the deceased to the Pure Land, as well as a statue known as the “Mikaeri Amida”, or “Amida Looking Back.”
Standing beside the Main Hall is the temple’s impressive five-story pagoda, completed in 1996. It rises approximately 39 meters and is described as the fourth-tallest traditional wooden five-story pagoda in Japan, following those at To-ji in Kyoto, Kofuku-ji in Nara, and Zentsu-ji in Kagawa.
The pagoda is tall enough to be visible from trains traveling along the Tohoku Main Line, making it a distinctive landmark in the surrounding landscape.
Four bodhisattvas associated with the Womb Realm are enshrined inside the pagoda. The interior is normally not open to visitors, so the exterior architecture provides the main opportunity to appreciate this impressive structure.
The grounds also include the Koyasan Aomori Branch Temple Main Hall, completed in 1998. Other traditional buildings, including the vividly vermilion-painted Daishido and Founder’s Hall, as well as a traditional study and reception building, form a spacious temple complex.
The arrangement of these buildings creates an atmosphere reminiscent of the sacred mountain temple complex of Koyasan, while the use of Aomori timber gives the site a distinctive regional character.
Visitors can experience traditional shojin ryori, or Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, at the temple with advance reservations. Prepared according to Buddhist culinary traditions, this style of food provides an opportunity to experience Japanese religious culture through local ingredients and carefully prepared dishes.
Behind the temple, a hillside becomes especially striking during summer when numerous colorful small windmills are placed as part of memorial services for children who died before birth or at a young age.
The rows of gently turning windmills create a quiet and poignant scene and reflect the temple’s role as a place where visitors come not only to worship but also to remember and pray for loved ones.
Seiryu-ji is surrounded by the peaceful countryside of Aomori. From the temple grounds, visitors can enjoy views of open fields and rural landscapes while exploring the imposing Buddhist buildings.
The combination of vast temple structures, traditional wooden architecture, and natural scenery creates an atmosphere that encourages visitors to slow down and spend time quietly taking in their surroundings.
Seiryu-ji was established as the Aomori branch of Koyasan when the former Koyasan Aomori Branch Temple in Chayacho, Aomori City, was relocated.
The temple’s founder and initiator, Oda Ryuko, appealed for donations to establish the new temple complex. The Showa Great Buddha and the surrounding buildings were ultimately completed with the support and faith of many people.
The extensive use of Aomori hiba cypress in the temple buildings also reflects the close connection between the religious complex and the natural resources of the region. The warm texture of the timber provides a strong contrast with the immense bronze Buddha and the vivid colors of the temple structures.
45 Yamazaki, Kuwabara, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Open year-round
From JR Aomori Station, take an Aomori City Bus bound for Showa Daibutsu and get off at the final stop, Showa Daibutsu.
Seiryu-ji and the Showa Great Buddha offer a remarkable combination of Buddhist culture, monumental architecture, local craftsmanship, and natural scenery. The enormous bronze statue immediately captures attention, while the five-story pagoda, hiba-wood buildings, Buddhist artworks, and peaceful surroundings invite visitors to explore the site more deeply.
For international travelers, a visit to Seiryu-ji is also an opportunity to discover an aspect of Japan that extends beyond its famous historic temples and major tourist destinations. Here, visitors can encounter living Buddhist traditions in a quiet rural setting while appreciating the distinctive architecture and natural resources of Aomori.
Whether you are interested in Japanese Buddhism, traditional architecture, history, or peaceful natural landscapes, Seiryu-ji provides a memorable place to pause, reflect, and experience the spiritual atmosphere of Aomori.