The Sendai Daikannon: An Overlooked Landmark

It’s funny how Japan’s world famous for various landmarks and world heritage sites but for us westerners, the list doesn’t usually go beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa. We’re vaguely aware that there’s more to the country but we don’t know much else.

Here’s one that deserves more attention, within a day’s trip of Tokyo, there’s a massive white statue dedicated to Byakue Kannon in the middle of Sendai that can be seen from anywhere in the city. It’s the biggest landmark for miles in every direction.

What is the Sendai Daikannon?

Sendai’s Daikannon is the tallest statue of a Goddess in Japan, but why pick her specifically?

The Goddess Kannon, more commonly known as Guanyin in Asia, is known as the Buddhist Goddess of mercy. She is known to be the most compassionate of the bodhisattvas because it is believed that she can hear the cries of suffering from all realms of existence and works tirelessly to alleviate them.

How tall is the statue?

The Sendai Daikannon is Japan’s largest statue standing at 100 meters or 330 feet to commemorate Sendai city’s 100th anniversary. Which is an impressive feat considering it was erected back in 1991, in fact it was the tallest statue in the world at the time it was unveiled.

Its record would be broken 2 years later by the Ushiku Daibutsu in Ushiku, Ibaraki. That statue by the way, still holds the record for the tallest statue in Japan.

Underneath, the basement was dug 21 meters (68.9ft) deep to signify prosperity in the 21st century.

Can I go inside the Daikannon?

It wouldn’t do well to get close to a giant statue like the Sendai Daikannon if you couldn’t go inside and see the view right? Looking straight up at something that tall is just a pitiful view.

Lucky for us, you can indeed go inside and look out to the city. For a fee of course, a reasonable entrance fee of 500 yen in this case. If you’re going with anyone under high school age, it’s free for them. You can also give a monetary offering if you wish.

Once you’re inside, you realize the statue doubles as a Buddhist temple and museum.

The 12 floors of exhibits within the Sendai Daikannon include statues of:

• The Goshiden (Heart of the temple/statue)
• 108 buddhas
• 12 Yakusha Taisho
• 33 Incarnations of Kannon

On your way out, there will be a small gift shop area where you can buy various charms for safety or health between 500 and 1000 yen. If you’d like, you can also get a mini Sendai Daikannon statue for 4000 yen or some Daikannon incense for 1000 JPY.

Where can I find out more?

Though the Daikannon statue does have an official tour site with more information, the entire site is in Japanese. Luckily for us, Sendai Motions has done an excellent video detailing the inside of the monument.

So if you’re ever near Sendai, don’t miss this landmark. What am I saying? You’d have to be blind miss the Sendai Daikannon if you’re anywhere near the city of Sendai. But do drop by, it might not be #1 anymore but it’s still a jaw-dropping sight today.

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