Katsutokuji

[Prayer of Peace, the Glory of National Treasures] The Pinnacle of Tohoku Buddhist Culture Residing in "Katsugojiji"

Nestled quietly in Yukawa Village, at the center of the Aizu Basin, is "Katsugojiji." Founded by the renowned monk Tokuitsu during the early Heian period (around 800 AD), this ancient temple symbolizes the dawn of Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region. Stepping inside, you will find the "supreme beauty" that has been preserved for over twelve hundred years quietly breathing.

■ A Soul-Stirring National Treasure: The Three Statues of Yakushi Nyorai

The main attraction of Katsugojiji is the national treasure, the "Wooden Statue of Yakushi Nyorai Sitting" along with the two attendant statues.

• A Masterpiece Carved from a Single Tree: Carved from a massive zelkova tree, its form is powerful yet filled with compassion, regarded as one of the finest masterpieces of early Heian sculpture. Its overwhelming volume and almost mystical silence deeply resonate with those who behold it.
• The Hall of Wooden Sculptures: In addition to the three Yakushi statues, many other Buddhist statues designated as important cultural properties are enshrined, creating a majestic space that can truly be called a "museum of wooden Buddhist sculptures."

■ A "Forest of Serenity" Where Time Seems to Stand Still

The precincts, which retain the traces of once thriving as a large temple, are enveloped in nature throughout the four seasons.

• The Original Landscape of Prayer: Thatched roofs and ancient stone monuments. In the tranquility where only the sound of swaying trees resonates, you can touch the smile of the Buddha that the former monks might have gazed upon.

A space of prayer connecting to the depths of Aizu's history. Would you like to feel the soul's cry embedded in the wood by the artisans of the Heian period and the gentle light of compassion?