The statue weighs approximately 6,000 tons.
There are 20 Buddhist statues displayed inside the hollow body of the Kannon.
The statue was commissioned by Inoue Yasusaburo, a local businessman, to pray for world peace and the prosperity of Takasaki.
The statue's face measures 8 meters in height, with ears measuring 2.6 meters.
The interior ascent includes 146 steps to reach the shoulder windows.
The statue is a designated site for the 'Kannon-sama' pilgrimage route in Gunma Prefecture.
It is situated on the 190-meter-high Takasaki Kannon Mountain.
Jigen-in Temple is best known for the Takasaki Byakue Dai-Kannon, a 41.8-meter-tall white statue of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, completed in 1936. The statue is constructed of reinforced concrete and stands prominently on Mount Kannon overlooking the city of Takasaki. Visitors can enter the interior of the statue and climb a staircase to view the city from windows positioned at the level of the Kannon's shoulders. The temple grounds house several smaller shrines and traditional Japanese gardens. The main temple site has historical origins dating back to the late 7th century. The site is a registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. It serves as an active place of worship with various traditional ceremonies held throughout the year.
The main approach path provides the best perspective to capture the full scale of the statue against the sky.
Bring comfortable walking shoes for the climb inside the statue.
Bring coins for the various offering boxes located throughout the temple complex.
Walk the wooded paths around the temple grounds to find smaller, less crowded shrines.
Do not attempt to climb the internal stairs if you have significant mobility limitations as there is no elevator.
Maintain a quiet tone near active prayer altars; remove hats when inside the statue.
