A Whisper from the Past — Walking Through Buzen Kokubunji Temple Site in Miyako Town

A deep breath of history surrounded by tranquility

Miyako Town, Kyoto County, in the eastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture. In a corner of this town surrounded by nature, there is a tranquil space that gently soothes the hearts of visitors. This is the "Buzen Kokubunji Temple Site". It was one of the Kokubunji temples established in 741 by order of Emperor Shomu, and flourished as the center of Buddhist culture in Buzen Province (present-day northern Kyushu area).

Memory carved in stone

The site, still retains cornerstones reminiscent of a part of the magnificent temple complex of that time, and the time of prayer in the past is still alive here and there. Particularly impressive are the huge cornerstones that line the ruins of Kondo. Whenever you touch these stones, you can imagine the magnificent halls that once stood here and the activities of the monks, as if you were watching a movie.

Prayer tower rising from the ruins of the fire

Rising from the ruins of a fire, the pagoda of prayer, Buzen Kokubunji Temple, suffered the fate of being destroyed by fire once before at the end of the Warring States Period. However, it regained its appearance during the Genroku period of the Edo period. In 1896 (Meiji 29), the three-story pagoda, which still rises majestically in the temple grounds today, was built. The 23.5 meter high tower, designated as a cultural asset by Fukuoka Prefecture, continues to quietly watch over visitors as a symbol of the revival of the temple.

The prayers of the past still quietly live on in this place.

We recommend taking a leisurely stroll in the lush green space surrounding the three-story pagoda, and feeling the history of the area. It is a time to be free from the hustle and bustle of the modern world and enjoy the luxury of simply “being”. The unspoken remains and the grass and trees swaying in the wind gently convey the true charm of the Bizen Kokubunji Temple.