念佛寺

Have you ever seen a statue that truly made you smile? At the Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple in Kyoto, you’ll find more than 1,200 of them. This hillside sanctuary is a whimsical haven of stone figures, each with its own unique expression and personality. The temple’s origins go back to the year 766 when it was founded by Empress Shōtoku. However, it has been rebuilt several times throughout its history, due to natural disasters, including floods and typhoons. The current location in Arashiyama dates back to 1922. It was in the middle of the 20th century that the temple was transformed into an open-air gallery of sorts. During the 1980s, under the guidance of the Buddhist monk Kocho Nishimura, visitors were encouraged to carve their own stone figures, known as rakan. These figures represent the disciples of Buddha, but unlike traditional depictions, they often have playful and humorous expressions. You might see a rakan holding a tennis racket, another balancing a child on its knee, or a pair laughing together while sharing a drink. The result is a charming and thought-provoking collection of statues, each a reflection of the personal stories of the people who created them. Today, as you wander through the serene beauty of the temple’s hillside, you’ll discover that each figure speaks in its own unique voice. Walk through the temple grounds, take your time, and let the smiling faces of the rakan bring a little joy to your day.