Every corner and bend of Kyoto offers something interesting and is always, always worth a stop. Ryōzen Kannon, as a matter of fact, was a huge surprise for hubby and me.

After an enjoyable walk around Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka neighborhood, we were hoping to find our way to Yasaka-jinja but instead saw this massive statue that completely wowed us. Ryōzen Kannon is a war memorial commemorating the fallen from the Pacific War, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier of World War II. There is an enormous concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) which was built and unveiled on June of 1955 by Hirosuke Ishikawa. The giant statue is 24 m high and is said to weigh 500 tons. Memorial tables of 2 million Japanese who died in World War II are also found here.

The enormous concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) at Ryōzen Kannon 霊山観音 in Kyoto, Japan. It is a war memorial commemorating the Unknown Soldier of World War II.
The enormous concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) at Ryōzen Kannon 霊山観音 in Kyoto, Japan. It is a war memorial commemorating the Unknown Soldier of World War II.
Hubby with the enormous concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) in the background at Ryōzen Kannon 霊山観音 in Kyoto, Japan. The statue is 24 m high and is said to weigh 500 tons.
Hubby with the enormous concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) in the background at Ryōzen Kannon 霊山観音 in Kyoto, Japan. The statue is 24 m high and is said to weigh 500 tons.

 

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