The large buddha here is regarded as one of the finest of its kind in Japan (Photo: Mandy Bartok)

The Stone Buddhas of Usuki

Ancient carvings in eastern Oita prefecture

Mandy Bartok   - 1 min read

The town of Usuki in eastern Oita prefecture is known for its thousand-year-old stone buddha statues, recognized as National Treasures by the Japanese government. Eight different groupings of statues can be viewed from a walking path that circles the cliffs where the buddhas were carved. Extensive renovations in both the 1970s and 1990s have made the statues look simply amazing for having been created over a millenium ago. For more details on some of the statues and the site itself, see the related article (link on the right side of this page). 

More info

Find out more about Usuki Stone Buddhas.

Mandy Bartok

Mandy Bartok @mandy.bartok

Japan resident for 10 years, with time spent in Okinawa, Kumamoto and Tokyo.