The Echizen Daibutsu Great Buddha is like going to one of Japan's greatest temples and having the entire place to yourself!
Katsuyama-shi in Fukui has one of Japan's most remarkable sights, and still completely unknown to the tourist guidebook "experts" and even the well traveled. It does not have centuries of history (it was actually opened in 1987) and the 17m tall Great Buddha was modeled after one in Luoyang, China. Even more amazing is the whole Seidaiji temple concept was done and funded by one guy - a local taxi tycoon (think about that the next time you hand over a wad of cash as taxi fare).
For Japan, the building has a resemblance to the Todaiji Temple in Nara - though it would be very hard to outdo it. The Echizen Great Buddha is also 2m taller than the Todaiji Great Buddha, plus next to an untouched mountain forest and has a 5 story pagoda you can climb to get a commanding view over the whole area.
It could be said that the Echizen Great Buddha is another example of a Japanese 1980's Bubble Era boondoggle or white elephant. The area is not close to any major cities, and from its opening visitors and taxes paid have been scarce. Katsuyama City finally took over the temple.
Along with the famed Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum and other sights, visiting the Echizen Great Buddha can make an excellent day of sightseeing.
If you want to see an extraordinary place without the mobs all around you taking selfies, go see the Echizen Great Buddha soon. It just takes one tour guide or tourism pusher to start sending in the huge tourist hordes by the busloads and ruining an amazingly tranquil and beautiful experience - one long since gone from Japan decades ago when word of mouth began sending in the throngs of people.
To see more great sights in the Hokuriku area, please have a look at the Hokuriku Playlist:
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