Take a trip to the underworld world—the “Hell and Paradise Pilgrimage” at Tōchōji Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

▲ Tōchōji Temple located in downtown Fukuoka. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

Travel Center / General Report

Do you believe that the afterlife is divided into heaven and hell? The Buddhist concept of the Eighteen Levels of Hell may seem surreal, but why not experience it firsthand? Tōchōji Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, not only houses Japan’s largest wooden seated Buddha statue, but also features a “Hell Pathway” beneath the Buddha’s platform. After walking through a corridor adorned with murals depicting the Six Realms of Hell, you enter a pitch-black tunnel for a unique “journey through hell.”

Located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Tōchōji Temple was built in 806 AD by the monk Kūkai upon his return from Tang Dynasty China, with the wish to further promote Buddhism. Although it’s not as well-known a tourist destination as Nara’s Tōdaiji or Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera, the temple is home to Japan’s largest Buddha statue.

▲ Tōchōji Temple enshrines Japan’s largest wooden Buddha statue. (Photo / fromYokaNavi, Fukuoka City’s official tourism website))

The majestic Fukuoka Daibutsu (Great Buddha) stands 10.8 meters tall and weighs 30 tons. It was carved from a single piece of hinoki cypress over four years, starting in 1988 (Showa 64), without using any jointing techniques. The temple staff guide visitors to a less conspicuous “Kaidan Meguri” (Stairway Pilgrimage) area next to the statue. They explain that, in order to let worshippers truly experience the Buddhist ideas of “hell and paradise,” a “Hell Pathway” has been created beneath the platform. Visitors can enter this area free of charge.

The area beneath the platform serves as an entrance to the hellish world. Along the walls are murals depicting the stages one goes through after entering hell, such as “Sai no Kawara” (the riverbed of souls), “Yama’s Judgment,” and the Buddhist Six Paths of Reincarnation including the “Animal Realm” and “Hungry Ghost Realm.” Then, as the light disappears, you descend into a pitch-dark passage. In the intense darkness, you can’t see your own hand in front of your face—even when it’s right up close. All you can do is walk slowly, holding onto the shoulder of the person in front of you or feeling along the handrail. In this moment, fear of the dark and a desperate urge to escape take over.

At the end of the passage, a bright light greets you, symbolizing arrival in the radiant world of paradise. The temple says that touching the “Buddha’s Wheel” on the wall will bring good fortune. After touching it, you exit the passage and return to the human world. If you’re visiting Fukuoka, consider experiencing the “Hell and Paradise Pilgrimage” yourself—but remember that photography and videography are prohibited inside.

Tōchōji Temple, Fukuoka

Address: 2-4 Gokushocho, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Access: About a 3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gion Subway Station