Great Kannon (Daikannon)

A fifty meter tall white statue of Kannon

3.2 (10)

#8 of 8 most visited in Shodoshima

The Shodoshima Great Kannon (��ω�, Shōdoshima Daikannon) is a large white statue depicting Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Completed in 1993 on the mountainside overlooking western Shodoshima Island, the 50 meter tall statue houses a temple inside.

Visitors may enter and climb (or take an elevator most of the way up) to the top floor built into the Kannon's chest where the temple's holy relic, a tooth of the historical Buddha donated by a temple in Sri Lanka, is enshrined. This floor doubles as observation deck, offering nice views.

Inside the base of the statue is a maze-like series of halls containing hundreds of golden miniature replicas of the Great Kannon, which have been donated by temple goers. There is also a large traditional altar in the central hall where visitors may worship.

By bus

From Tonosho or Ikeda port, take a bus along the Kitamawari Fukuda Line (�k��蕟�c��) bound for Fukuda Port (��c�`) and get off at Shodoshima Daikannon-mae (��ω��O). The one way ride takes 30 minutes and costs 300 yen. There are direct connections every 2-3 hours from either port. The statue is a ten minute walk uphill from the bus stop.