Usuki Stone Buddha

Usuki Stone Buddhas are cliff-carved Buddhist statues located in Usuki City, Oita Prefecture. Cliff carvings are statues carved directly into a rock face or into niches cut into rock walls. They are designated as a Special Historic Site of Japan. According to the Manano Choja legend, they are believed to have been created in the latter half of the 6th century. The carvings are spread across four areas: the Furuzono Stone Buddhas Group, the Sannoyama Stone Buddhas Group, the Hoki Stone Buddhas Group No. 1, and the Hoki Stone Buddhas Group No. 2. Each group conveys a profound sense of time and history. Volunteer guides for the stone Buddhas are also available, so it is highly recommended to tour with one. Nearby, the Sekibutsu Park features rural landscapes and rich natural scenery, with moss phlox in spring, lotus in summer, and cosmos in autumn. With the spacious park, the presence of the Usuki Stone Buddhas feels even more impressive. Usuki itself is a former castle town with charming stone-paved lanes and a nostalgic atmosphere. Around the stone Buddhas, there are also sites such as Mangetsu-ji Temple, Fukada’s Torii gate, and gorinto stone pagodas, so visit Usuki to see one of Japan’s largest sets of cliff-carved Buddhas and feel the depth of Japanese history. Access to the Usuki Stone Buddhas is about 20 minutes by bus from Usuki Station.