Shoboji Temple was first established in 1683 but did not join the Obaku school until 1692. In 1832, Ichu, the 11th head priest, began planning the construction of the Gifu Great Buddha in Nara and Kamakura.

Shoboji temple

The buildings and sacraments are influenced from Chinese style.

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The big buddha image was built in 19th century in memorial of the death from eartquake and pandamic.

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One of the Owari family members from Nagoya donated to build the buddha image.

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You can observe the Chinese design influence in its architecture and ornamentation from the garden’s layout which is different from the Japanese style that there will be a small pond in the garden.

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Obviously, the gutter is shorter than the other Japanese temple. I am not so sure whether it is the design in that period, or it was destroyed by the time.

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The ticket must be presented prior to entry. Ticket price is the same for both local and foreigner: Adult 200 Yen, Children 100 Yen.

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You will see a wooden handicraft statue of Binsuruson, one of the Lord Buddha’s Arhats at the hallway. Japanese believed that he is a god of medicine.

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The north and south walls of the hall are lined with 500 statues of Buddha’s disciples.

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It is beleived that our face will be similar to one of the 500 Arhats after we had died.

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Each one is distictively unique and has a different expression, clothing, and pose.

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The legend has it that Ichu travelled on foot to Nagano and Niigata to collect the scripture.

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Amida Nyorai scrupture, the buddha of limitless light, sits in front of Daibutsu.

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This is the biggest Golden Buddha statue in Gifu. It was originately made from the unique techniuqe in sticking the Japanese paper on a mold made of wood, bamboo, and clay.

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Then finishing with lacquer and gold leaf.

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May the sacred Buddha blesses your family and your love’s one. May joy and peace surround you and healthiness be with you now and evermore!

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The history of the temple was written beside the big Buddha for those who are interested.

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Lenght of ears: 2.12 meters (6.96 ft) Lenght of mouth: 1.31 meters (4.3 ft) and Height of nose 0.36 meters (1.18 ft)

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Lenght of statue: 13.63 meters (44.72 ft) On his right hand side, the middle finger is touching the thumb as a cycle.

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On the left hand side, you will see how the statue was made. The temple has been maintaining and reparing.

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Lenght of face: 3.63 meters (11.91 ft) Lenght of eyes: 0.66 meters (2.17 ft) Can you immagine how big the Buddha is from the measurement?

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Shoboji Temple is located in Gifu city near Gifu Park, just cross the road from Gifu City Museum of History and the Nawa Insect Museum.

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Two ineteresting temples nearby to visit are Jozaiji Temple and Myoshoji Temple. At Myoshoji is where Matsuo Basho, the most famous poet in Edo period, lived and composed Haiku poetry.

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Behind the big Buddha, there is a stair to walk up to see the statue closely.

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This is Sungjunoto, it is the pagoda that keeps the relics of the priest, made from five yen coins.

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You can buy some Omamori, the Japanese amulets inside small and colorful pouches. Omamori means “to protect” or “protection”

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Shoboji temple

Address	8 Daibutsucho, Gifu, 500-8018
Entrance fee	Adults 200 yen Children 100 yen
Opening house	April – October: 09:00 – 18:00 November-March: 09.00-17.00 Open all year round
Website	Shoboji temple
How to get there	Take the bus at Gifu City Hall, take the bus N33, N41, N43, N73, N75, N80, N83 or N86, get off at Hon-machi 1-chome station, walk for about 5 minutes. Or from JR Gifu Station, take the bus platform 11 or Meitetsu Gifu station, platform 4 bus to Nagara, get off at “Gifu Koen, Rekishi Hakubutsukan-mae”, about 15 minutes from the train station.