[Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture] “Kamaishi Daikannon” is a giant Buddha that watches over Kamaishi Bay, one of the three great giant Buddhas in Tohoku

"giant Buddhas" (Kyodaibutsu) in Japan . While there are no clear standards for what constitutes a "giant Buddha," Yasuo Tsugawa, a researcher in urban geography, commercial geography, and landmark studies and professor emeritus at Takasaki City University of Economics, states in his book "Religious Landmarks and Their Requirements: Using the Great Kannon Statue as an Example" that a "giant Buddha" must be at least 25 meters tall. Furthermore, novelist Tamaki Miyata, in his book "Go See the Giant Buddha on a Sunny Day," states, "There's no strict rule of thumb, but a rough guideline is that it must be bigger than Ultraman," and defines a "giant Buddha" as anything over 40 meters tall.

In any case, there are no clear standards for what constitutes a "giant Buddha" when it comes to a giant Buddha or a huge structure that is the object of worship. It's up to each individual to use their own standards

However, its enormous size has certainly become a symbol of the city, regardless of faith or religion

This time, I would like to take a closer look at the Kamaishi Daikannon, one of these giant Buddha statues, which faces Kamaishi Bay and watches over Kamaishi City and the world, along with two other giant Buddha statues in the Tohoku region

---

Three Giant Buddhas in Tohoku

Since I live in Miyagi Prefecture, when I hear the words "giant Buddha," the first thing that the Sendai Great Kannon , but did you know that there are three "giant Buddhas" in the Tohoku region?

Daikanmitsuji Temple, "Sendai Daikannon (Sendai Tendo White Robe Daikannon)"

The Sendai Daikannon, located in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture , was completed in 1991. It is a standing statue, 100m tall, and is classified a "White Robed Kannon ." The official name of the Sendai Daikannon is " Sendai Tendo White Robed Kannon," the Daikanmitsu It is affectionately known by locals "Nakayama Kannon."

It is possible to tour the interior of the Sendai Daikannon, which is divided into 12 floors and has a 60m high atrium. The 12th floor has observation windows on the front and back of the Daikannon, from which you can see the city center and Izumigatake, respectively. On a clear day, you can even see all the way to the Oshika Peninsula, which is about 60km away in a straight line

There is also an elevator inside the building that takes you directly to the 12th floor

The construction was inspired by the deep religious faith of the local people

The construction of the Sendai Daikannon is said to have begun in 1964 when the local Sendai company Futaba Group began developing large residential areas and leisure facilities in the Nakayama area. The group's leader, businessman Sugawara Man, made a wish to erect a large Kannon statue out of his faith, believing that "the success of his business was due to the Kannon he worshiped on a daily basis," and out of his desire to create a famous landmark in Sendai

Information

• Name: Sendai Tendo White Robe Kannon
• Address: 31-36 Nakayama Minami, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, 981-3217
• Opened: September 1, 1991
• Sect: Shingon sect Chizan sect
• Opening hours
  • Weekdays: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Weekends and holidays: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
• Admission fee: 500 yen

Google Map

---

Hokokuji Temple Aizu Betsuin, "Aizu Mother Kannon"

The Aizu Mother Kannon, located in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture , was completed in 1987. It is a standing statue, 57 meters tall, and features a rounded overall form as it gently holds a baby in its arms. The land and giant Buddha were originally owned by Tsurukame Construction Co., Ltd., and the land, building, and management rights have now been transferred to the religious corporation Hokokuji Aizu Betsuin.

It is also possible to tour the inside of Aizu Jiboshi Daikannon. Inside are 10,000 Buddha statues, 1/25 scale golden statues, and the 12 zodiac charms enshrined as principal images. At chest height (40 meters), there are observation windows scattered throughout the temple offering views of the Aizu townscape, the rural landscape of the basin, Mt. Bandai, the Iide mountain range, and more

Aizu Village , where the Aizu Jiboshi Kannon is located, is a tourist destination with a vast Japanese garden spanning 200,000 tsubo (approximately 195,000 m2), filled with seasonal plants such as cherry blossoms, azaleas, lotus flowers, daffodils, hydrangeas, camellias, and plum trees.

Built as a prayer for peace

The 57m tall Aizu Jibō Daikannon was built in prayer for world peace by the late Haga Shonosuke of Tsurukame Construction Co., Ltd., who founded Aizu Village in 1986 and prayed for world peace. He spent a total of 1 billion yen to erect the Aizu Jibō Daikannon. In addition to the Aizu Jibō Daikannon, the Aizu Village grounds also house a 13.4m Shaka Nyorai Nirvana Statue, which is said to be the Nirvana Buddha exhibited in the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the 1985 Tsukuba Expo

Information

• Name: Aizu Jibō Daikannon
• Address: 178 Nagahara Higashitakano, Katomachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-3461 (within the Aizu Village grounds)
• Opened: 1986
• Sect: Jodo Shu Setsuha
• Opening hours
  • April to November: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • December to March: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for middle and high school students, 300 yen for elementary school students

Google Map

---

Sekio Zenji Temple on Mt. Myoho, "Kamaishi Daikannon"

The Kamaishi Daikannon, located in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture , was completed in 1970 and is a standing statue of the Gyoran Kannon , standing at 48.5m tall. It is the oldest giant Buddha in the Tohoku region. It was erected by Sekio-ji Temple , and inside the statue is a spiral staircase that runs from the right forearm, through the fish section, to the left elbow, forming an observation deck.

Kamaishi Daikannon is built on a small hill on the Kamasaki Peninsula in Ohira Town, but there is an escalator on the hillside, making it easy to visit the temple

Kamaishi Daikannon: Praying for peace in the spirit world and the world of the living

The chalk-white Gyoran Kannon statue, "Kamaishi Daikannon," standing on the Kamasaki Peninsula in Ohira Town, was erected in April 1970 at the request of the 17th abbot of Meihozan Sekiozenji Temple, Untei Seiro. The statue's main purpose is to enlighten the souls of those who have died for various reasons through the compassion of Kannon Bodhisattva, guiding them to enlightenment and leading them to enlightenment, as well as to relieve people living in this world from suffering, and to pray for peace in both the living and dead worlds

Information

• Name: Kamaishi Daikannon
• Address: 3-9-1 Ohiracho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, 026-0002
• Opened: April 8, 1970
• Sect: Soto Zen
• Opening hours
  • 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (last entry) 5:00 PM (closing) *May vary depending on the season
• Admission fee
  • Individual: Adults 500 yen, Junior and senior high school students 300 yen, Elementary school students 100 yen
  • Groups (20 or more): Adults 450 yen, Junior and senior high school students 270 yen, Elementary school students 100 yen
  • Groups (100 or more): Adults 400 yen, Junior and senior high school students 240 yen, Elementary school students 100 yen

Google Map

---

I actually visited the Kamaishi Daikannon at Sekiozenji Temple on Mt. Myoho

I introduced three "giant Buddhas" above, but this time I visited "Kamaishi Daikannon" in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture. Personally, I don't have any strong religious beliefs, and to be honest, I only visited because "my family grave is there...", so the reason I visited was simply for sightseeing

However, I had heard before that there was a huge Kannon statue in Kamaishi, so I was excited and nervous as I wrote this clumsy report, but please bear with me for a little longer

Welcome to Kamaishi Daikannon

Kamaishi Daikannon is located in Ohira-cho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, on the Kamasaki Peninsula in Ohira-cho, just a stone's throw from Iwate Prefectural Kamaishi Commercial High School. The site is large and includes not only Kamaishi Daikannon but also the main gate, Fudoden Hall, and stupa, as well as free parking large enough for 15 large buses and 150 passenger cars

The thing that surprised me the most when I visited without any prior information was that there is Nakamise Shopping Street in front of the main gate of Kamaishi Daikannon

Kamaishi Daikannon Nakamise Street

As you can see from the photo above, it has fallen into disrepair and most of the stores have closed, but it was once bustling and full of life, on par with the Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa, Tokyo. Please don't get me wrong, not all the stores have closed, and Kamaishi Daikannon Nakamise Street has not disappeared.

Even now, there are several stores that have reopened after being renovated by local next-generation entrepreneurs. All of the stores have stylish and appealing exteriors. They also have well-designed websites, so if you have time, please take a look at them using the links below

Kamaishi Daikannon Nakamise Street Official Website

---

Go past Nakamise Street and head to the temple gate

From this gate, you can ascend to Sekio Zenji Temple and Kamaishi Daikannon. On either side of the gate are two Nio statues, A and Un, created by Kyoto Buddhist sculptors Sakuma Hakuun and Sakuma Keiun, and completed in July 1976

After passing through the temple gate, I went to the ticket office to pay the admission fee and headed to Kamaishi Daikannon! I was surprised to see an entrance right in front of me, which I thought was an indoor staircase to protect from the wind and rain

You'll see an escalator right in front of you

It's filled with love. You can walk there, but of course I take the escalator. I think of it as a kind of attraction

After climbing the 37m long escalator, the back of Kamaishi Daikannon appears before your eyes

Kamaishi Daikannon

Kamaishi Daikannon is located 120 meters above sea level, with Kamaishi Bay stretching out before you. In the distance, you can see the magnificent ria coastline of Rikuchu Kaigan National Park, as far as Mada Cape and the Ozaki Peninsula

In 2016, Kamaishi Daikannon was selected as "Sacred Place for Lovers" a "Bell of Wishes" , and many people visit as a new power spot for love success, taking photos in front of the monument and ringing the bell with wishes for success in love.

Although I am visiting alone, I have experienced the love of Kamaishi Dai Kannon and enjoyed Kamaishi Bay at my leisure, so now I am ready to dive into the womb of Kamaishi Dai Kannon

The Kamaishi Daikannon, one of the 33 Kannon, is a representation of the Gyoran Kannon

Kamaishi Daikannon is "Gyoran Kannon" , which is one of the Kannon Bodhisattva Bodhisattva counted among the 33 Kannon. This is a quote from the official website of Kamaishi Daikannon, but what is Gyoran Kannon?

In a village in Henan Province, a place without religious belief, a beautiful girl carrying a fishing basket arrived to sell fish. Local young men vied to marry her, but the troubled girl promised to marry anyone who could recite the Kannon Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Lotus Sutra.
The young man who successfully recited the three sutras married the girl, but she soon fell ill and never returned. A few days after the funeral, an elderly monk in purple robes instructed them to dig a grave, but the girl's body was not found, only her golden collarbone. The girl was believed to be an incarnation of the great monk Kannon, who appeared to spread the Lotus Sutra, and she has since been worshipped as Gyoran Kannon.

The origin of Kamaishi Daikannon Gyoran Kannon

It has been with.

Once inside the temple, there is no elevator and you must use the stairs to view the temple. There are also toilets on the first floor for men and on the second floor for women, so we recommend using them first

Inside the womb, there are 33 Kannon statues on display, each carved from a single piece of camphor wood in the hatchet carving style, depicting the various forms that Kannon takes to save all living beings

And on each floor from the second to the eleventh floor, wooden carvings of the Seven Lucky Gods are enshrined. Hmm? The eleventh floor? That's right. You can only climb the stairs to the eleventh floor of Kamaishi Daikannon and the observation deck on the twelfth floor

The width of the stairs varies and there are some narrow sections. The same stairs are used for going down, so please be careful when passing other visitors

If you go up to the 12th floor the Gyoran Observatory , where you can get a panoramic view of Kamaishi Bay from atop the fish held by Gyoran Kannon in both hands. However, the observation space isn't very large, and due to the iron fence barricade, I, who have a fear of heights, could barely take a single photo. However, I think anyone who loves heights and spectacular views will be very satisfied.

This is your final destination, and all that's left to do is go down the stairs you came up

There is also a shop at the base of Kamaishi Daikannon, so we recommend purchasing some souvenirs after your visit

---

summary

This concludes our report on Kamaishi Daikannon

All Kannon statues (giant Buddha statues) are objects of religion and faith, and should not be taken lightly, but when you research "giant Buddha statues," you will find that none of them are affiliated with any sect and therefore do not allow visitors

It might be a good idea to visit as part of your sightseeing trip, and as a kind of theme park