Statues in Japan

Hundreds of statues of Buddha’s disciples meditating, napping, sneezing, and picking their noses.

A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.

A giant gorilla guardian of the neighborhood, warning people to drive safely.

An American mascot that became a lucky god in Japan, enshrined in a city far from the main center of his worship.

Made to improve road safety, these policemen-like figurines in Miyakojima island have earned an enthusiastic fanbase.

Two ogres stand guard at the Oga Visitor Center.

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

Nestled among the bamboos in a temple complex, this art installation serves as a unique memorial to insects.

Guarding the city of Chiyoda is a bizarre insectile creature with a name no one can pronounce.

This site commemorates the life of a Japanese scientist who dedicated his life to the discovery of diseases.

This sculpture bears a tragic backstory that may have inspired a hauntingly beautiful children's song.

This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation.

Once the park closes at sunset, the greatest haiku poet of all time moves to face the Sumida River.

Life-sized statues of two characters from a decades-long Japanese film series stand outside Shibamata station.

A serene mountaintop temple complex featuring one big, bronze Buddha.