Katsutokuji

【Prayer of Heian, the glory of a national treasure】 The pinnacle of Tohoku Buddhist culture residing in "Katsutaka-ji"

Nestled quietly in Yukawa Village, at the center of the Aizu Basin, is "Katsutaka-ji." This ancient temple, said to have been founded by the renowned monk Tokuitsu during the early Heian period (around 800 AD), symbolizes the dawn of Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region. Once you step 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 Katsutaka-ji is the national treasure, the "Wooden Statue of Yakushi Nyorai seated" along with the two attendant statues.

• A masterpiece of single wood construction: Carved from a massive zelkova tree, its form is powerful yet filled with compassion, and is regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of early Heian sculpture. Its overwhelming volume and almost mystical silence deeply resonate with the hearts of those who behold it.
• The hall of wooden sculptures: In addition to the three Yakushi statues, many 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 "tranquil grove" where time seems to stand still

The grounds, which retain the vestiges of once thriving as a large temple, are enveloped in nature throughout the seasons.

• The original landscape of prayer: Thatched roofs and ancient stone monuments. In the silence where only the sound of swaying trees resonates, you can touch the smile of the Buddha that the former monks must have gazed upon.

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