Sanjusangen-do 三十三間堂
Taira no Kiyomori built the original temple in 1164 on request of the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa. The temple burnt to the ground in 1249 and was faithfully reconstructed in 1266.
Sanjusangen-do means the "Hall of the 33 spaces", referring to bays between the pillars of the elungated edifice. However, the seldom used official name is Rengeo-in Temple.
The whole building covers 1001 Buddhist statues, making it one of the most impressive display of the kind in Japan (or even worldwide). The largest statue in the middle represents the Thousand-Armed Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy), although she actually has only 40 arms, each said to save 25 worlds.
Kannon is flanked by 500 smaller statues on each side. The statues are quite similar in size and appearance, but the facial traits of each of them is unique, and visitors like to compare them with family members or acquaintances.
28 very fierce-looking statues of Hindu gods (Buddhism being closely related to its parent Hinduism) are lined up in front of the 1000 buddhas and Kannon statues. They all have their name written in Kanji and romanized Sanskrit.
On 15 Januray, archers shoot arrows from the northern end to the southern end of the hall for the Toshi-ya Matsuri. This festival dates back to the Edo period.
How to get there
Bus 206 or 208 from Kyoto station stop at Sanjusangendo-mae. You can also walk directly from Kyoto station (15min) or from the nearer Keihan Shiji-jo station.
Sanjusangen-do is open from 8am to 5pm from 1 Aptil to 15 November, and from 9am to 4pm the rest of the year. Entry cost ￥600. Note that photographs are prohibited inside.
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