Ryozen Kannon Temple Kyoto

The islands of Japan are said to have been one of the oldest seats of civilization. In fact the islands of Japan are believed to have seen its first human settlements as early as 10000 years ago and if there were a city that could be named as a storehouse of this enormous history it would the erstwhile imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto. The former capital of Japan, Kyoto is probably the most picturesque city in Japan. The imperial capital was at the pinnacle of its success when the Emperor ruled the country from here and its myriad architectural landmarks like palaces, temples and shrines were built mainly in this period.

Out of the sheer mind-boggling numbers of temples the city of Kyoto has, Ryozen Kannon is one of them. Ryozen Kannon is located near the grounds of Kodaiji Temple on lower slopes of the Higashiyama Mountains. It has a 24-meter (80 feet) concrete idol of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Mercy, built in 1955 to honor the martyrs of World War II, both Japanese and Allied soldiers. Tourists are allowed to enter the body of the statue to see the Eleven-headed image of Kannon that is housed within. Many of the soldiers’ names are kept in card files.

Memorial prayers are held four times daily in a shrine that houses memorial tablets of Two million Japanese who died in the war. A Memorial Hall in the temple compounds honors the 4800 foreign soldiers who gave their lives on Japanese soil. Inside the somber temple complex is an idol of a reclining Buddha figure in a state of moksha and an altar containing soil from every Allied cemetery in the Pacific theater of war.

The temple is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:20 PM and entry fees are200 yen. The temple is a short walk away from Keihan Shijo or Gojo stations
Telephone: 075 561 2205

Other places that are nearby and worth a visit are:

- Kodaiji Temple
- Maruyama Park
- Yasaka Shrine
- Kyoto Craft Center
- Gion District

If you are staying in the city of Kyoto for a longer period of time and have time on your hands then other sights that you must see in Kyoto are:-

- Daitokuji Temple:
- Kinkaku-ji Temple:
- Hirano Shrine:
- Ryoan-ji Temple:
- Ninnaji Temple:
- Jingoji Temple:
- Nonomiya Shrine
- Okochi Sanso
- Iwatayama Monkey Park
- Nijo Castle
- The imperial park
- Museum of Kyoto
- Higashi and Nishi Honganji Temple
- Kyoto Tower
- Fushimi Inari Shrine

Hotels in Kyoto
Hotel Hyatt Regency	Hotel Otsu Prince
Hotel Takaragaike Prince	Hotel Brighton
Hotel Granvia	Hotel Nikko Princess