Sanjusangendo Temple

Why Sanjusangendo Temple is special ?

SanjusangendoHall(三十三間堂, Sanjūsangendō) is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire.

The temple hall is with 120 meters Japan's longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally "33 intervals") derives from the number of intervals between the building's support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a large, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) that is flanked on each side by 500 statues of human sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows. Together they make for an awesome sight.

Sanjusangendo Hall is the longest wooden structure in Japan (there are archery contests held along the length of the hall every January).

Source : http://www.japan-guide.com

What to explore at Sanjusangendo Temple?

SanjusangendoHall itself is surrounded by an austere gravelled space within its surrounding walls, though mature trees and ornamental gardens a contrasting feature.

There is a good gift shop here, where we bought a pack of postcards to compensate for not having been able to take photos of the Kannon, and some small scented sachets. You can also get some nicely done calligraphy

There are over a dozen bronze statues interspersed among the Buddhas and their detail is fascinating. For instance, one bronze statue has skull 'shoulders' with biting mouths that encircle the upper arm.

In front of the multiple rows of Kannons are the 28 deities that protect them, and they are wonderfully animated and distinct.

There's a massive Buddha statue (11 feet tall) in the center of the hall that is a Japanese national treasure

How to get to Sanjusangendo Temple?

Sanjusangendo is located next to the Hakubutsukan-Sanjusangendo-mae bus stop.

You can take bus No. 100, 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station to the Hakubutsukan-Sanjusangendo-mae stop. Alternatively, you can take the Keihan subway line to Shichijo Station (Sanjusangendo is about a five-minute walk from there)