contri, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Sendai Daikannon is a white figure of the Byakue Kannon standing 100 metres tall — a 92-metre figure on an 8-metre base — on the northwestern edge of Sendai, and it is visible from most of the city. Both of its dimensions are deliberate: the temple, Daikanmitsuji, built it to 100 metres for the centenary of Sendai's founding as a municipality, and sank it 21 metres into the ground for the twenty-first century. It was completed in 1991. You enter through a doorway shaped as a dragon's mouth, and inside the figure is hollow for its full height, with twelve floors around a 60-metre atrium and a lift straight to the twelfth, where observation windows face the city front and back. Coming back down on foot you pass the thirty-three Kannon, the twelve heavenly generals and 108 buddha figures ranged around the walls. The Kannon holds a wish-granting jewel in her right hand and a vase of the water of wisdom in her left.

Best season

Year-round

Crowd level

Hidden gem

Opening hours

Mon–Fri 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sat–Sun 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Usual hours — confirm with the official site for holidays + seasonal closures.

Admission

¥500 for junior-high age and above, to go inside the statue. Primary-age and preschool children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; the temple's notice sets no separate child price. This rate took effect on 1 January 2026 under the temple's own posted revision.

Nearest station

Sendai Station (about 7 km)

Website

daikannon.com

More in Tohoku

Continue exploring

Waseda Sajikiyu Bathhouse

Miyagi

Sendai Morning Market

Miyagi

Mount Gassan

Yamagata

Cape Todo / Todogasaki Lighthouse

Iwate

Mount Hayachine

Iwate

Mount Bandai

Fukushima

Kitayamazaki Cliffs

Iwate

Showa Daibutsu (Seiryu-ji)

Aomori