Japan Guide
Kyūshū
Kōshi-byō
Walking along the Dutch slopes you can't miss the bright yellow roofs of Kōshi-byō, nestling at the foot of the hill within its stout, red-brick wall. Interestingly, the land beneath this Confucian shrine, completed in 1893, belongs to China and is administered by the embassy in Tokyo. Its present pristine state is due to an extensive 1980s rebuild using materials imported from China, right from the glazed roof tiles to the glittering white marble flagstones and statues of Confucius's 72 disciples filling the courtyard. After the restrained tones of Japan's religious architecture, Kōshi-byō's exuberant use of colour comes as a bit of a surprise, as does the gorgeously bedecked statue of Confucius flashing an endearing pair of snow-white buck-teeth in the old, incense-stained sanctuary. Behind, the shrine museum is packed with priceless treasures, many on loan from the Beijing Palace Museum, including hefty silver ingots, gold seals and a copy of the world's first seismograph. Opening time: Daily 8.30am–5pmPrice: ¥525