What other travelers are saying about Ryozen Kannon Temple
Impressive 24-meter statue of the Bodhisattva Kannon, a symbol of peace and compassion. Apparently, it is not so old and was actually built in 1955 to honor WWII victims. This is a nice temple with a tranquil atmosphere and historical significance. Not very crowded.
The Ryōzen Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) Temple is a war memorial for the dead of the Pacific War located in Eastern Kyoto. The concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara was built by Hirosuke Ishikawa and unveiled on 8 June 1955 (69 years ago). The statue is 24 m high and weighs approximately 500 tons. The shrine beneath the statue contains an image of Bodhisattva Ekādaśamukha and images of the god of wind and god of thunder. After paying the 200 yen entrance fee, visitors can place a stick of incense (given them at the entrance) in a large pot just beyond Kagami Ike (Mirror Pool)
Other Buddhist statues and a memorial Buddhist footprint can be found in the garden area of the temple.
I was really touched by visiting the concrete Guanyin and the temple. Don’t forget to take a gorgeous picture at the Kagami Ike (Mirror Pool) A beautiful reflection of Guanyin could be captured in the photo. The clear blue sky and white clouds were so auspiciously bright and exquisite the day we paid the visit to the temple. Visitors minds could be transformed to a state of tranquility by the serenity calmness of the statue and the surrounding nature.
Also visitors can make a wish at the
Negai no Tama (Wishing Ball). It is believed that with Guanyin blessing, people wishes may be manifested.
FYI, Kodaiji (高台寺, Kōdaiji) is an outstanding temple in Kyoto Higashiyama district and is located 4 mins walk away from Ryōzen Kannon Temple. There is also a small bamboo grove in the temple ground. Entrance fee is 900 yen per adult.
Nice place woth a huge Buddha statue smiling down on the visitors, entry fee is small, as is the temple. There is a nice viewpoint close to the entry as well as the entry to the Bamboo Forest.
The temple is impressive, serving as a memorial to the War of the Pacific. There is a commerative area to all the nations' WW2 cemeteries and the Unknown Soldier. The grounds are also very nice to tour. A quick 45 minutes is all you need. You will also be next to the famous Gion Distric, which is also an important stop in your tour of Kyoto.
Beautiful statue. Not as essential as the rest of temples. But if you are in the area and have spare time worth a short visit (30-45 mins) is more than enough.
300 yen entrance fee and they give you an inciense stick to put at the entrance.