Patrick Vierthaler
Ryōzen Kannon
霊山観音
A large statue of Kannon (Guanyin), the Boddhisattva of mercy, thrones next to Kōdai-ji temple. This site was built in 1955, ten years after the end of World War II, to commemorate Japan’s war dead and pray for peace. The sculpture and the buildings surrounding it are made of concrete. While the Kannon is also visible from neighboring Kōdai-ji, it is quite interesting to visit this place. Daniel Milne and David Moreton (2022) have authored quite an interesting article on the history of this place, which can be found online in the Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus.
As a photographer, I guess the best time for visiting this Kannon is in the afternoon. In spring, several cherry trees bloom all around the precincts.
Admission: open year-round
Nearby places of interest: Kōdai-ji, Entoku-in, Yasaka Pagoda
The Ryōzen Kannon.