Kyoto Japan | Ryozen Kannon The Ryozen Kannon War MemorialThe Ryozen Kannon, or 'Goddess of Mercy' is a twenty-four meter tall memorial to the 2 million fallen Japanese soldiers of World War II. The statue is located between Kodaiji Temple and Ninenzaka, on the Higashiyama Path in estern Kyoto. The 80 foot tall concrete statue was built in 1955, and visitors can go inside its hollow body to see an eleven-headed icon of the goddess Kannon. 
Royozen Kannon as seen from Kodaiji Temple's Zen Garden (left) Inside the shrine there is an altar that contains soil taken from every cemetery in the World War II Pacific theater, and a separate memorial commemorating the 48,000+ foreign soldiers who died within the Japanese territories. Memorial services are conducted four times daily. 
Bamboo gardens between Kodaiji Temple and Royozen Kannon There is a serene bamboo grove with walking paths, that separates the Ryozen Kannon from the Kodaiji Temple to the north. The Shrine is open daily, from 8:30am to 4:20pm. There is also a picturesque view of the Yasaka Pagoda from the south end of the parking lot (photo at top of page). |
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