{"id":451,"date":"2025-04-26T10:40:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/?p=451"},"modified":"2025-06-01T20:51:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T11:51:13","slug":"stone-statues-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/nature-guide\/stone-statues-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Those Stone Statues by the Road in Japan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6537-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6537-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6537-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6537-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6537.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Stone Statues You\u2019ll Find Along Roads in Japan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, I\u2019d like to introduce something you can often spot when walking along old streets or narrow alleys in Japan &#8211; <strong>stone statues<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever come across an old-looking stone statue while strolling through a quiet, traditional area in Japan?<br>You might not see them much in big cities, but they\u2019re quite common at village entrances or at crossroads in the countryside where large-scale development hasn\u2019t taken place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, they might all look similar &#8211; but if you look closely, you\u2019ll notice different shapes and details.<br>In fact, there are many types of these roadside statues. <br>While many of them are actually gravestones, a large number can be categorized into four main types: <strong>Dosojin<\/strong>(\u9053\u7956\u795e), <strong>Koshinto<\/strong>(\u5e9a\u7533\u5854), <strong>Jizo<\/strong>(\u5730\u8535), or <strong>Bato Kannon<\/strong>(\u99ac\u982d\u89b3\u97f3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at what each of them means and what they look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dosojin (\u9053\u7956\u795e)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dosojin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dosojin are guardian deities placed at village borders or along roadsides to protect the community. <br>They are believed to bring good fortune, drive away evil spirits, and ensure fertility and bountiful harvests. <br>They are also worshipped as protectors of travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These statues come in many forms, but one common type is a pair of male and female figures side by side. <br>This \u201cpaired Dosojin\u201d represents not just road protection but also a god of harmony and union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also a traditional fire festival called Dondoyaki, held around January 14th every year near Dosojin statues, where people light sacred fires to ward off evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Shima Onsen, you can find several D\u014dsojin statues, including the paired kind. <br>The town also holds Dondoyaki in the evening of January 14th at several spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Koshinto (\u5e9a\u7533\u5854)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230829_120-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230829_120-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230829_120-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230829_120-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230829_120.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hyaku Koshin in Shima Onsen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Koshinto are stone monuments built as part of a folk belief system called Koshin-shinko, which came from China. <br>Many of these towers simply have the kanji \u201c\u5e9a\u7533\u201d carved into the stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This belief involved staying awake through the night on certain days (called Koshin days, which come every 60 days) to pray to deities and ward off bad luck. <br>The practice was especially popular until the late 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Shima Onsen, there\u2019s a spot called Hyakukoshin, where more than 50 Koshinto once stood along the town\u2019s old main street &#8211; proof of how widespread the belief once was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jizo (\u5730\u8535)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230508-_DSC5200-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230508-_DSC5200-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230508-_DSC5200-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230508-_DSC5200-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230508-_DSC5200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jizo and etc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These stone figures are often shaped like gentle, kind-looking people &#8211; many with cute or peaceful expressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jizo comes from Buddhism and refers to Jizo Bosatsu, a bodhisattva believed to protect people from suffering in the afterlife, especially children.<br>Over time, these statues blended with local Shinto and folk beliefs and became widely loved as roadside protectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of their connection with Dosojin, you\u2019ll often find Jizo statues at the entrances of old villages as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bato Kannon (\u99ac\u982d\u89b3\u97f3)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/batou-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/batou-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/batou-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/batou-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/batou.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bato Kannon &#8211; simple stone slabs with the words \u201c\u99ac\u982d\u89b3\u97f3\u201d carved<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bato Kannon literally means \u201cHorse-Headed Kannon.\u201d <br>It\u2019s a fierce-looking version of Kannon (the Buddhist deity of compassion) with a horse\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some monuments are simple stone slabs with just the words \u201c\u99ac\u982d\u89b3\u97f3\u201d carved on them, many statues show this deity with an intense, wrathful expression. Bato Kannon is believed to protect livestock &#8211; especially horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Horses used to be an important way to get around, so I think that\u2019s why you often see these statues along old roads and travel routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/bato.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bato Kannon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20230827-_DSC6536.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hyaku Koshin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20210113-_DSC0055.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dosojin and Bao Kannon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"462\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20231207-_DSC1350.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dosojin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20240824-_DSC4738-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dodojin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20241115-_DSC6980.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dosojin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250430-_DSC9139.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dosojin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/kosin1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Koshinto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How was that?<\/strong><br>Next time you find yourself walking through Japan\u2019s countryside, take a closer look at the old statues and stone towers you pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They each have their own stories and meanings\u2014and they remind us of the long history of the people who once walked those same paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that the stories and meanings behind these stone statues and monuments can vary greatly depending on the time period and region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Stone Statues You\u2019ll Find Along Roads in Japan Today, I\u2019d like to introduce something you can often spot when walking along old streets or narrow alleys in Japan &#8211; stone statues. Have you ever come across an old-looking stone statue while strolling through a quiet, traditional area in Japan?You might not see them much [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature-guide","tag-japan-unveiled"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Are Those Stone Statues by the Road in Japan?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever come across an old-looking stone statue while strolling through a quiet, traditional area in Japan? A large number can be categorized into four main types: Dosojin(\u9053\u7956\u795e), Koshinto(\u5e9a\u7533\u5854), Jizo(\u5730\u8535), or Bato Kannon(\u99ac\u982d\u89b3\u97f3).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shimaonsen-guide.com\/gunma\/nature-guide\/stone-statues-in-japan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Are Those Stone Statues by the Road in Japan?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you ever come across an old-looking stone statue while strolling through a quiet, traditional area in Japan? 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