Iwate Prefecture in Tohoku is home to Kamaishi Dai-Kannon Temple, a giant Buddhist statue that overlooks Kamaishi harbour and the Sanriku coast.

History and Architecture

In the late 1960s, the Seikiouzenji Temple in Kamaishi commissioned this statue and a large temple. They commissioned this work from Kou Hawagawa, who created a 48.5-metre statue from concrete and steel rods. The statue is of the Bodhisattva, who prays for world peace, sincere and earnest wishes, and victims of tsunamis and wars.

The statue has 13 levels. The bottom level is the entrance, and the second is the worship hall, built from Aomori cypress. It features the Bodhissttava of mariners and fishing, Avlokiteśvara, and the eleven-faced Kannon set in the centre.

The third and final complete level is the hall of 33 Kannon statues, made using the Natabori sculptural style from the Kamakura period. These statues show the Buddha of Mercy’s different aspects and forms.

The remaining levels have various statues and shrines to the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Finally, once you reach the final level, you can exit the Dai-Kannon onto the back of the fish, which has a cage-like structure from which you can look out over Kamaishi harbour, which was once extremely important to shipping and resupply for ships going between Tokyo and Hakodate during and even before the Edo period.

Construction of the Dai-Kannon was completed in April 1970 and opened to the public soon after. In 1977, the Chaitya – a temple that enshrines part of the Buddha – was built and received remains from a sister temple in Sri Lanka. You can see these on the main floor, built in Sri Lankan style. Below ground in the Chaitya is the worship hall of the founders of the eight schools of Buddhism that are present in Japan today.

Getting to and into Kamaishi Dai-Kannon Temple

The Dai-Kannon was built in its location at the temple’s request and according to the Bodhisattva’s aspect: marine affairs and victims of wars and tsunamis. She stands looking over the harbour and the coast of this area of Japan.

You need a car to visit the Kamaishi Dai-Kannon Temple unless you have a lot of time to spend on public transportation. Getting there can be tricky as it is not well-signposted from all directions. You need to take the coastal road, Route 45, and when Google Maps tells you to exit down a small side road, this is the road you need. It is somewhat hidden and slopes down, so you will have to find a place to turn around if you miss it. I recommend the next traffic light (which is what I had to do).

It costs ¥500 for entry into the complex as an adult. There are also free and paid parking lots, depending on how far you want to walk.

Once you have paid the entrance fee, you will take an escalator to the top (Note: you must take the stairs coming down). The rest of the way is all stairs, so it will be difficult for those with limited mobility to see the site. The statue also has no lift/elevator, so be prepared to climb all 200 stairs!

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