真言宗九州教団の本山。山号は南岳山（なんがくざん）。本尊は弘法大師（こうぼうだいし）。大同（だいどう）元（806）年、唐から帰国した空海（くうかい）（弘法大師）が創建した日本最古の寺で、当初は海辺の地にありましたが、戦火にみまわれたことで福岡藩二代藩主･黒田忠之（くろだただゆき）によって現在地へと移されました。境内には黒田家二代･忠之、三代･光之（みつゆき）、八代･治高（はるたか）の墓があり、現在は市指定の史跡になっています。そのほか、国指定重要文化財の千手観音像（藤原時代）や、市指定有形文化財の六角堂など、多くの文化財を有しています。
平成4(1992)年には「福岡大仏」が完成し、その横には宝物展示室も設置されています。福岡大仏台座下では「地獄・極楽めぐり」が体験できます。

【公開時間】9:00～17:00
福岡大仏は拝観料が必要です。

This is the head temple of the Shingon Buddhism Kyushu organization, with the mountain name of Nangakuzan and the principal enshrined image is Kōbō Daishi, a priest, scholar, and artist. Founded in 806 (Daidō 1) by Kūkai (born Saeki no Mao and posthumously named Kōbō Daishi) upon his return from Tang China, it is Japan’s oldest temple established by him. The temple originally stood by the seaside, but after being ravaged by warfare it was moved to its present location by Kuroda Tadayuki, the second lord of the Fukuoka Domain. Within the grounds are the graves of the second lord Tadayuki, the third lord Mitsuyuki, and the eighth lord Harutaka of the Kuroda family; today they are designated a municipal historic site. The temple also preserves many cultural properties, including a Thousand-Armed Kannon statue from the Fujiwara period (Heian), designated a National Important Cultural Property, and the hexagonal Rokkakudō hall, designated a City Tangible Cultural Property.

In 1992 (Heisei 4) the “Fukuoka Great Buddha” was completed, and a treasure exhibition room was installed beside it. Beneath the Great Buddha’s pedestal visitors can experience the “Tour of Hell and Paradise.”

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission of ¥50 is required to view the Fukuoka Great Buddha.