Tochoji

Tochoji is a temple in the Hakata district of Fukuoka said to have been founded by the monk Kukai on his return from study in China, making it one of the oldest of its school in the region. Its grounds hold a striking red five-storey pagoda and a vast wooden seated Buddha, one of the largest of its kind carved in Japan, before which visitors can pass through a dark tunnel symbolizing a journey through hell and heaven. The temple sits close to the main railway station, offering a convenient encounter with old Hakata's heritage.