Ozawa Stone Buddha Forest and Fureai Stone Statue Village

The 'Oosawa Stone Buddha Forest' was established in 1989 by Mutsuo Furukawa, chairman of the Jonan-kai Medical Corporation, on a hillside near the Jinzu River No. 2 Dam in what was then Osawano Town, now part of Toyama City (Chinpou Reports). Motivated by a desire to create 'the world's largest collection of rakan (arhat) statues,' Furukawa commissioned stone figures from Chinese sculptors by sending photographs and detailed specifications. The Stone Buddha Forest holds 570 figures (500 rakan plus 70 other Buddhist deities), while a second site 800 meters away, 'Fureai Stone Figure Village,' holds 720 figures — 300 rakan plus 420 statues modeled on Furukawa's actual friends, family, and acquaintances (Weekend Adventure Blog). Total construction costs reportedly reached hundreds of millions of yen. Furukawa passed away in 2013 at the age of 80; the corporation has continued to maintain both sites as free public spaces.

The Five Hundred Rakan tradition — enshrining 500 disciples of the Buddha who compiled the scriptures after his death — spread widely through Zen temples from the Muromachi to Edo periods. The Osawano case is exceptional in that a private individual, motivated by a desire to set a record rather than by religious duty, created the collection outside any temple context. Further, the mixing of traditional rakan images with portrait statues of living contemporaries reflects a modern sensibility of commemoration and entertainment rather than purely religious intent. The Chindera Dojo describes the site memorably as 'not a forest with stone Buddhas in it, but a place where stone Buddhas are so numerous they become a forest' (Chindera Dojo).

The Toyama City Tourism Association lists the site as an official attraction, describing it as 'a somewhat mysterious, captivating spot where stone Buddhas line the hillside in great numbers' (Toyama Tourism Association). Toyama Prefecture's official tourism website also features a dedicated article (Toyama Tourism Navi). The founder's stated wish — 'I hope this contributes to tourism in Toyama and puts the Hida road on the map' — is preserved in site signage and is reflected in the free, open-access operation that continues under corporate management.

April through November (winter access is impractical due to snow). October to mid-November is especially recommended, when the Jinzu Gorge foliage provides a scenic backdrop. Note that the rest facility is closed on Tuesdays.

At the Stone Buddha Forest, use a telephoto lens to compress the hillside and emphasize the density of figures. At Fureai Stone Figure Village, a wide-angle shot capturing the full extent of the statues conveys the overwhelming quantity. Watch footing — slopes can be slippery due to moss and loose stone.

Both sites are effectively inaccessible in winter due to snowfall. Avoid standing for extended periods on the steep slopes above the stone figures due to risk of falling rocks. Parking: a few roadside spaces at the Stone Buddha Forest; a proper free parking lot at the Stone Figure Village. Toilets are available at the rest facility during opening hours only.