Daikannon Statue in Sendai, Japan

Sendai City is a place that is known for bright lights, being a livable place, shopping, nightlife, and for having great food. But the city holds a great sight and a major monument that is less known. Sendai is the home of Daikannon. It is the tallest statue of Nyoirin Kannon in the world and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan. At the time of its completion in 1991, it was the tallest statue globally but has since been surpassed for that title.

As of 2018, it is the fifth tallest statue in the world at a whopping 100 meters (330 ft). Its importance is not just about the massive size and the unique skyline it gives to the Sendai panorama. Still, it’s also about the religious and cultural meaning of the monument. It is a stunning sight, a white guardian towering and watching over the Izumi ward.

Kannon is the Japanese name for the Bodhisattva of Mercy and Compassion (Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit), which has been revered in Japan for many centuries. Kannon is actually considered genderless even though the statue is n female form. The name “Kannon” translates to, “One who sees or hears all.”  I don’t know if she does all that but once you are in Izumi you will certainly feel the hovering presence of the giant statue.

Things to do at Sendai Daikannon Statue

Visitors can buy tickets to tour the 12 floors of Kannon-related artifacts inside Sendai Daikannon. Our recommended route for this tour is to go inside and go from the first floor in a circle, viewing the exhibits. Once you’re satisfied, take the elevator up to the top floor, then look at the exhibits on each floor as you go down the spiral-like staircase. This minimizes the chances of missing out on an exciting display or two without realizing it.

The Entrance of the statue is shaped in the opened mouth of a dragon that symbolizes good luck. Upon stepping into the first floor, you’ll see 33 Kannon figures in various poses, collectively known as the Sanjūsan Kannon, along with the Jūnishinshо̄, or 12 guardian deities associated with the Chinese zodiac.

On the 12th floor you will find the goshinden exhibit. There you will see the goshintai, a sacred shrine. There are also small viewing windows on this floor, looking out from the abdomen and back region of the statue. On fair weather days, you can even see Sendai Station or the Pacific Ocean from the windows! Located through the second to 11th floors of the statue interior are 108 Buddha statues, collectively known as the Hyakuhattai Hotoke.

Note that the elevator only stops on floors 2, 6, and 10. If you need a break halfway through your tour, there are rest benches strategically located through the building that you can use. If the stairs get too tiring, take the elevator to save more of your energy and attention for the artifacts on display!

The open ceiling design allows visitors to see right through the floors, whether they’re on the ground or the top floor. Coupled with the bright lights used to illuminate the display spaces, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve wandered into an alternate dimension altogether.

Don’t forget to check out the “Amulet of Happiness” next to the reception counter. This bright golden charm is said to be able to fulfill wishes. If you need help to understand how best to do a circuit around the building interior efficiently or more information about the amulet, ask a nearby staff for an English pamphlet. The team may also help you with questions you may have in English.

Best Photo Locations at Sendai Daikannon Statue

If you’re planning on visiting, allow us to share some excellent spots you can camp out for great photo ops of the giant Sendai Daikannon statue. Much will depend on what exactly you’re hoping to capture, of course. The best place to get a full head-to-toe picture of the statue would be in the vicinity of the Sendai Daikannon-mae bus stop, which is about 100 meters (328 feet) away from the figure.

The view from the bus stop is unblocked by trains. It has a good balance of green vegetation and blue sky, making the pure white statue stand out on clear days during spring to summer, resulting in many beautiful and memorable photographs.

Also, there’s a hotel near the Sendai Daikannon-mae bus stop that you can include in your photographs with the statue, just to show off exactly how tall and large it is!

Another exciting shot you could go for is to take a picture looking up from the statue’s base, right at the dragon mouth entrance. From there, it almost seems as if Kannon is ready to head to the stars!

The parking lot of the commercial establishment facing the statue is a magnificent spot to take a clear front-view picture of it. Be considerate when taking your shots, though, and remember that the parking lot is reserved for the establishment’s customers.

Snap or Instagram Sendai Daikannon from Residential Areas

For a genuinely otherworldly vibe, snap a shot of the statue from one of the residential areas nearby! This would require a little traveling away from the temple site, though, since you’ll have to take a bus to the Nakayama Nanachome bus stop that’s four stops before Sendai Daikannon-mae and walk for about three minutes to Nakayama Nanachome Park. The pathway beside the park is a brilliant spot to get your fantasy-like shot done just right!

Play with perspectives using your camera’s zoom function and see if you can make the statue and residential zone look closer than they actually are for some added intensity! This depends very much on what sort of lens is installed on your camera, of course, so don’t feel bad if you can’t seem to get the desired result. Whatever your equipment, we’re confident you’ll enjoy putting in the effort to get the perfect shot you want, no matter the season, weather, or distance!

Sendai Daikannon, is located in the Shingonshūchisanha Shinsekai Daikanmitsuji Temple, is the only place in Japan where you can get plenty of unique and impressive pictures of giant Kannon statue. Don’t forget to show off your favorite shots to your social network!

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How to get to Sendai Daikannon Statue from Tokyo

If you want to see the impressive Sendai Daikannon but do not know how to get there, keep reading. Traveling to Sendai Daikannon is pretty simple. If you start your journey from Tokyo, you have two options–either the Shinkansen (Japan’s fast train system) or a highway bus. Depending on your budget and schedule, both options can be suitable.

The JR Tohoku Shinkansen connects with Tokyo to Sendai. The Hayabusa, Hayate, and Komachi trains take 100 minutes to travel between Sendai and Tokyo and require seat reservations. Yamabiko trains have some unreserved seating and take about two hours before taking off. The one-way journey costs approximately 11,000 yen (around $100), making them quite expensive, especially if you’re on a low budget.

The more affordable option for tourists is taking a highway bus. Multiple bus companies, including Willer Express, offer direct highway bus service between Tokyo and Sendai during both the day and night. Travel duration is about 5.5 hours. Regular one-way fares start at 2500 yen (around $23).

And then when you arrive at Sendai bus or train station you will need to know how to go to the monument. Fortunately for you, it’s straightforward to get to the Daikannon Statue starting from JR Sendai Station. You can take the Sendai Municipal bus at bus stop number 14 from the West Exit of JR Sendai Station and get off at Daikannon-mae bus stop.

This route will take you to the massive white statue in around 35 minutes. Sendai Daikannon is located at 31-36 Nakayamaminami, Sanezawa, Izumi Ward. Let’s just say if you are in the vicinity of the statue, you can’t miss it.

The statue is open May to October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from November to April from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Entrance is 500 yen (about $4.50 US). Daikannon is arguably one of the symbols of Sendai City, and if you are visiting the area, don’t miss the opportunity to see this towering statue and the cityscape from the top of the monument.

Hotels and Restaurants near Sendai Daikannon Statue

The closest restaurants to the beautiful monument are:

• (0.08 mi) Sendai Hills Hotel
• (3.00 mi) Sendai Royal Park Hotel
• (4.35 mi) Hotel Metropolitan Sendai East
• (4.22 mi) The Westin Sendai
• (4.28 mi) Hotel Metropolitan Sendai

These hotels are in the mid-range. So you’re looking at around 150 US/night. We recommend that if you are on a budget, just go to a budget hotel in the downtown area. Traveling to and from Daikannon is really easy as we pointed out, so don’t worry about hotel prices. You can read more about budget hotels in this article.

As per restaurants, the close dining places around Daikannon include:

• (0.07 mi) Shinsen Yasai Shizenha Buffet Restaurant 6-Chome Noen Nakayama
• (0.08 mi) Fontaine
• (0.13 mi) Mos Burger Sendai Nakayama
• (0.16 mi) Chateraise Sendai Nakayama
• (0.19 mi) Yamanakaya Sendai Nakayamayoshinari

Conclusion

If you’re visiting Sendai, one of the most extraordinary things you could see is the Sendai Daikannon monument. Standing tall at 100 feet, it is the 5th most prominent statue in the world. Watching over the city, it is an excellent location if you want to experience Japanese culture and see the architectural wonder of Sendai. If you go, don’t forget to take pictures as the picturesque views of the monument are nothing less than breathtaking and after your trip rest in one of the hotels near the Daikannon.

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Photo via – Hideyuki KAMON