Japan's Largest Daikoku Statue Cleaned by Drone

Nov 14, 2026 | News On Japan

GUNMA - A shrine in Gunma Prefecture has used a high-pressure cleaning drone to wash Japan's largest statue of Daikoku, cutting a maintenance job that previously took two to three weeks to just one day while reducing costs to around one-tenth of the conventional method.

As the year-end cleaning season approaches, Nakanotake Shrine has adopted drone technology to clean its towering 20-meter-tall golden statue of Daikoku, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods, traditionally associated with wealth, prosperity and good fortune.

Rather than using conventional cleaning equipment and scaffolding, operators flew a specialized drone around the statue, spraying high-pressure water onto its surface. The direction of the nozzle and water pressure were carefully adjusted according to the location and severity of the accumulated dirt.

The method eliminates the need to erect scaffolding around the enormous structure, dramatically reducing both the time and expense involved. A cleaning operation that previously required two to three weeks can now be completed in a single day, with costs falling by approximately 90%.

The results were immediately visible as layers of dark grime built up over many years were washed away, revealing the statue's original brilliant golden surface.

Yohei Kudo, a priest at Nakanotake Shrine, welcomed the results, saying, "It feels wonderful for us to see Daikoku looking so clean again, and I think visitors will also feel refreshed and comfortable when they come to pray."

With its golden appearance restored, the towering Daikoku statue is now ready to welcome worshippers visiting the shrine for the New Year.

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日本群马县一座神社利用高压清洗无人机，对日本最大的大黑天神像进行了清洗。过去需要两至三周才能完成的清洁工作，如今仅用一天便告完成，费用也降至传统方式的约十分之一。

Source: TBS

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