The Great Buddha of Nihonji is another impressive Buddha statue we didn't quite get to see on this trip. Located in Kyonan, this massive stone-carved statue of Yakushi Nyorai stands over 30 meters tall and holds the record for the largest stone-cut Great Buddha in Japan. Originally created in 1783, the statue has been around for centuries and received a restoration in the 1960s to keep it looking impressive.

The Nihon-ji Temple grounds are pretty cool, with over 1,500 stone statues spread across the area. Along with the Great Buddha, there's a 30-meter-tall rock sculpture of the Buddhist goddess of mercy. While we didn't make it this time, it seems like an interesting spot for anyone interested in Buddhist art and large-scale stone sculptures.

It would have been nice to see, but it's not like we missed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Just another reason to potentially plan another trip to Japan and explore some of these less-traveled cultural sites.