Ryozen Kannon
Ryozen Kannon
4
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Monday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Tuesday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Wednesday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Thursday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Friday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Saturday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
Sunday
8:40 AM - 4:20 PM
About
This Buddhist monument is a park dedicated to people who died in World War II.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Josie IinoCambridge, United Kingdom735 contributions3.5 stars - the statue itself is incredibleThe Buddha is magnificent. It really is. It is so big. I was the first person who entered at opening and I just remember thinking how big the thing was. Otherwise, there is not much to see. I heard loud drums and there were other prayer areas, but none of them were that pretty. The Buddha is amazing, however. It is taller than most of the shrines I visited today. The actual building it stands on is not that pretty, though. Visitors also get to carry incense! Absolutely worth visiting if you are going to Kōdaiji.Visited December 2023Traveled soloWritten December 10, 2023
- T DPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania4,478 contributionsBeautiful Kwan-on!We visited the Ryozen Kwan-on when we walked around the old town of Kyoto. Entrance fee was 300 Yen. You receive a large incense stick with it to pray. The area is small - has various Buddha statues. You can also walk into the large Buddha statue. There was a delicious restaurant outside called Chasen. Their Matcha dessert was delicious!Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 25, 2023
- Jeff B8 contributionsInteresting temple compound as a reward for climbing steps.Accidentally found this site after meandering through the streets of Kyoto and lazily walking up steps to get better views and photos below. Turned around to see the Principal of the Zodiac peeking at us over the walls. You pay about 5 yen to get in and it’s worth it. Peaceful and thought provoking. Take some time to view and contemplate after placing your incense in the Censer. Lots to see and takes 25-30 minutes.Visited May 2024Traveled with friendsWritten May 1, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
162 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
68
Average
35
Poor
6
Terrible
4
Josie Iino
Cambridge, UK735 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
The Buddha is magnificent. It really is. It is so big. I was the first person who entered at opening and I just remember thinking how big the thing was. Otherwise, there is not much to see. I heard loud drums and there were other prayer areas, but none of them were that pretty. The Buddha is amazing, however. It is taller than most of the shrines I visited today. The actual building it stands on is not that pretty, though. Visitors also get to carry incense! Absolutely worth visiting if you are going to Kōdaiji.
Written December 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff B
8 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Accidentally found this site after meandering through the streets of Kyoto and lazily walking up steps to get better views and photos below. Turned around to see the Principal of the Zodiac peeking at us over the walls. You pay about 5 yen to get in and it’s worth it. Peaceful and thought provoking. Take some time to view and contemplate after placing your incense in the Censer. Lots to see and takes 25-30 minutes.
Written May 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just T
Los Angeles, CA756 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Similar to other reviewers, we accidentally stumbled across this temple and it is everything everyone is saying it is so I won't repeat the obvious (like theres a really, really beautiful big buddha). And while I didn't read all the reviews to know if they were mentioned, I want to make sure to point out some of its other highlights.
As other reviews have noted there's a war memorial. Inside that memorial building, there's also a large cabinet that lists the names of all the allied personnel during the war (From the USA, Australia, England, France, Canada, England, Holland, Italy, China, Norway, India, Holland, New Zealnd, Denmark...). Open any drawer and you will find a list of names.. It is humbling.
There is also a large glass cabinet with small ceramic pots on display, each contains soil or sand from military cemeteries all over the world.
Just outside the main temple is a large golden ball, this is the Wishing Ball. It is said that your wish will be granted if you walk as many times as the number of wishes you make while touching the ball with your right hand.
Behind the Wishing Ball is a beautiful, large stone tablet of Buddha's footprints. According to legend, after the Buddha attained enlightenment, his feet made an imprint in the stone where he stepped. While I'm not sure what the significance is, there were a few people tossing coins onto the footprints. We followed suit and did the same.
On the other side of the main temple are smaller outdoor shrines for all different purposes, one even to pay your respect to miscarriages.
If we weren't rushed for time, we would have stayed longer and we probably would have found other wonderful things about this place. For the small entrance fee, it was well worth it.
As other reviews have noted there's a war memorial. Inside that memorial building, there's also a large cabinet that lists the names of all the allied personnel during the war (From the USA, Australia, England, France, Canada, England, Holland, Italy, China, Norway, India, Holland, New Zealnd, Denmark...). Open any drawer and you will find a list of names.. It is humbling.
There is also a large glass cabinet with small ceramic pots on display, each contains soil or sand from military cemeteries all over the world.
Just outside the main temple is a large golden ball, this is the Wishing Ball. It is said that your wish will be granted if you walk as many times as the number of wishes you make while touching the ball with your right hand.
Behind the Wishing Ball is a beautiful, large stone tablet of Buddha's footprints. According to legend, after the Buddha attained enlightenment, his feet made an imprint in the stone where he stepped. While I'm not sure what the significance is, there were a few people tossing coins onto the footprints. We followed suit and did the same.
On the other side of the main temple are smaller outdoor shrines for all different purposes, one even to pay your respect to miscarriages.
If we weren't rushed for time, we would have stayed longer and we probably would have found other wonderful things about this place. For the small entrance fee, it was well worth it.
Written September 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy C
Brisbane, Australia329 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
We were looking for Kodai-ji temple and walking from the bus stop near the Yasaka Pagoda, when we were struck by the huge statue of Kannon and went to investigate. We'd never heard of this monument, even though we've been several times to Kyoto, and were very impressed at the unbiased approach to commemorating all the dead in the Pacific campaign in WW2. A very peaceful and serene place in a lovely setting. We liked the idea of being given a large stick of incense each to place in the burner in front of the shrine under the statue. We respected the request not to photograph any Buddha images or memorial tablets, though I see some have been included in the review photos for this place. Modest entry fee of Y200. In the end we didn't go to the Kodai-ji temple and took the walk through the narrow streets to Gion.
Written June 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MickeyTheFixer
Chesterfield47 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
It's so easy to miss this place as you follow the trail of visitors between Maruyama Park, Ninenzaka and Kiyomizu-dera, but it's well worth the very short detour. Situated right next door to Kodai-ji Temple which is always rammed with visitors, it's a place to experience some calm and relection away from the hordes of tourists. A recently built temple (1950s), it's dedicated to ALL the fallen of the Pacific War during World War Two. A huge concrete statue of Kannon (Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara) dominates the site, and it is an impressive sight - but also a thing of beauty, set as it is against the backdrop of the wooded hills of Higashiyama. There's a modest entry fee and you will be given a stick of incense to light and place in the censer in front of the main hall.
The names of just about all Japanese who died in WW2 are stored in the main shrine and several times a day a memorial service is held in their memory. However, for a non-Japanese visitor, even more impressive is probably the fact that the names of all Allied personnel who died under Japanese jurisdiction are commemorated in another hall, along with soil from all the Allied military bases from around the world. There is also a hall commemorating the unknown soldier. The inside of the giant statue is itself a museum containing statues of the Buddha and various boddhisatvas... although you won't realise you are actually entering it at first as you climb up the slightly rusty metal stairs to get there.
There are some other small shrines around the site, including one dedicated to the feet of the Buddha, with giant foorprints in the stone... I still haven't found out why!
This site as a whole is not extremely big compared to some other shrines, but it is really worth a visit. It's a beautiful setting but also has an air of peace and tranquility that is tangible, a very appropriate feeling for a shrine dedicated to the memory of the fallen and dedicated to the promotion of world peace and the end of war.
It's easy to get to, just use your favourite mapping program/app to find it, but easy to miss as well...
Very little information provided in any language except Japanese, so do a little research before you visit (or take someone who can read Japanese with you) to get a better understanding of the place. However, the symbolism is so obvious that you really can't misunderstand it.
I've been here twice now and I will go again the next time I'm in Kyoto. Definitely one of my favourite shrines in the whole city.
After visiting this shrine, take a short detour up the hill to where the street curves to the right and visit Ryozen Gokoku Shrine which is dedicated to the heroes of the Meiji Restoration and contains the burial place of Nakaoka Shintaro and Sakamoto Ryoma, two important figures of the restoration who were assasinated in Kyoto.
The names of just about all Japanese who died in WW2 are stored in the main shrine and several times a day a memorial service is held in their memory. However, for a non-Japanese visitor, even more impressive is probably the fact that the names of all Allied personnel who died under Japanese jurisdiction are commemorated in another hall, along with soil from all the Allied military bases from around the world. There is also a hall commemorating the unknown soldier. The inside of the giant statue is itself a museum containing statues of the Buddha and various boddhisatvas... although you won't realise you are actually entering it at first as you climb up the slightly rusty metal stairs to get there.
There are some other small shrines around the site, including one dedicated to the feet of the Buddha, with giant foorprints in the stone... I still haven't found out why!
This site as a whole is not extremely big compared to some other shrines, but it is really worth a visit. It's a beautiful setting but also has an air of peace and tranquility that is tangible, a very appropriate feeling for a shrine dedicated to the memory of the fallen and dedicated to the promotion of world peace and the end of war.
It's easy to get to, just use your favourite mapping program/app to find it, but easy to miss as well...
Very little information provided in any language except Japanese, so do a little research before you visit (or take someone who can read Japanese with you) to get a better understanding of the place. However, the symbolism is so obvious that you really can't misunderstand it.
I've been here twice now and I will go again the next time I'm in Kyoto. Definitely one of my favourite shrines in the whole city.
After visiting this shrine, take a short detour up the hill to where the street curves to the right and visit Ryozen Gokoku Shrine which is dedicated to the heroes of the Meiji Restoration and contains the burial place of Nakaoka Shintaro and Sakamoto Ryoma, two important figures of the restoration who were assasinated in Kyoto.
Written August 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elisabethmh
Oslo, Norway591 contributions
Nov 2019
Ryozen Kwan-on is a magnificent 24 m high monument of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Godess of Mercy). The monument was erected in 1955 to honor all soldiers who died during World War II. Regardless of religion (or not religion) no one is harmed by showing respect here. It is an absolute beautiful place and you may also wander "inside" the big buddha.
Written October 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie L
Manlius, NY38 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
With several historical exhibits that acknowledge and remember those lost in WWII, this is a unique place incorporating spiritual and historical elements. We spent about 40-50 minutes here when it first opened around 8:40 and were able to visit all the shrines and buried sights. Location near Ninnen-zaka was also a plus for a nearby cultural experience. This could easily be done in about 30minutes.
Written October 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alandserey
Sydney, Australia10 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
We were starting to get really tired of all the crowds in Kyoto and it was a rainy day when we decided to visit the Kannon statue which we could see from our hotel room. It was a difficult trek up in the rain with two kids and a stroller and we got a little lost in the crowds near Higashiyama. Just when we were about to give up, we turned the corner and there it was, looming up right before us. We were soaked by this time and had to leave the stroller behind because of the rain on gravel, but it felt a little like a pilgrimage, where you leave the horses behind to do the last bit on foot. It was so quiet, peaceful and lovely by the time we reached the temple and we sat and listened to the drums for awhile until the rain let out.
Written October 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melissarane
Cincinnati, OH132 contributions
Sep 2017 • Family
The giant statue of the Bodhisattva can be seen from outside but that is not all it is. Pay the small entrance fee (support the temple!), say a prayer at the base, then walk around back and GO INSIDE the statue. There are 10-12 Buddha statues in the cool, peaceful womb/interior, and in the back of the statue is a small path with more memorials.
I wouldn’t make a special trip from across town, but if you are in Gion anyway and tired of the shops and crowds, walk across the street for a peaceful break. The whole thing can be done in 30-60 minutes.
I wouldn’t make a special trip from across town, but if you are in Gion anyway and tired of the shops and crowds, walk across the street for a peaceful break. The whole thing can be done in 30-60 minutes.
Written September 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KianHwee
25 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
Attracted to the big statue from afar. Can wish for a good match, and wishing for couple's harmoniousness within the temple.
Written November 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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