What other travelers are saying about Ryozen Kannon Temple
I think it is one of the most beautiful and powerful places I have ever been to. And it is not necessarily very new or maintained but it is authentic. They give you candles at the entrance which you can light imnear the base of the Buddha and there is
Very interesting attraction in Kyoto near Gion. The Buddha is relatively recently built (1955) and is made of concrete. It is very distinct from the Great Buddha statues in Kamakura and Nara. There were almost no people there when we went, so it is a peaceful experience. You are given a free incense stick to make an offering, you can pray as well (if you like). The statue is very huge and impressive, good condition. The building near by has lots of text on it, interesting design. There are various shrines in the complex, some of them have stairs to reach. Vintage cars on display as well.
There are clean bathrooms and water taps (for drinking), the ones outside the complex are kinda dirty so use these.
Overall, while it may not be an ancient Japanese site, there is still some interest history here and a beautiful statue. I recommend to visit, admission is not expensive. It is near Kodaiji temple/bamboo grove so you can do both in one day.
We were walking around when we spotted a very tall statue in the distance. It looked really interesting, so we decided to head towards it and we ended up at Ryōzen Kannon Temple, home to a 24 meter tall statue. It was a quiet place with hardly any tourists, and it was truly beautiful to see the statue up close so large and peaceful.
The statue is impressive, and the incense smells nice. If you take time to explore around the temple, you'll find history here regarding WW2 including memorials. This is a peaceful area suitable for reflection.
Ryozen Kannon Temple is a war memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of all sides of the Pacific War. The temple features a towering 24-meter-high Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) statue, symbolizing compassion and mercy. It was unveiled in 1955 and built by Hirosuke Ishikawa.
Yes, visitors are allowed to enter the heart of the Kannon statue. Inside, you'll find dark chambers with shrines and altars dedicated to different signs of the zodiac, as well as the large stone footprint of Buddha.
Apart from the Kannon statue, the temple grounds host a memorial to the unknown soldier, a Christian-style chapel with the names of Allied soldiers and POWs who died under Japanese jurisdiction during World War II, and memorial tablets for the two million Japanese who died in World War II. Services are conducted four times a day in memory of the war dead.
Yes, the temple's location in Kyoto's Higashiyama district makes it a convenient stop alongside other cultural landmarks like Maruyama Park, Chionin, Shoren-in, the Ryozen Museum of History, Kodaiji Temple, Gion, Kiyomizudera, and the Okazaki museum district.
While specific photography policies are not explicitly stated, visitors are generally encouraged to be respectful, especially given the somber nature of the memorial. It's advisable to look for signage indicating photography restrictions or ask temple staff for guidance upon arrival.
