In a quiet residential area about forty minutes' walk from Yaizu station in the suburbs of Shizuoka, Daikakuji Zenshu-In is an appealing Buddhist temple, with unblemished new statues outside and a zingy modern glass-fronted hall.
The grounds and rock garden are pleasant and peaceful, but the main draw is inside, a serene golden statue—the largest in Japan—of the Senju Kannon, a thousand-armed Buddhist deity. The statue doesn't actually have a thousand arms, of course; the Senju Kannon is usually depicted with 40 arms, each hand saving the beings of 25 worlds, and while I didn't count them, I guess that's the case here.
It's a mightily impressive sight, creating a deeply restful atmosphere inside the hall, well worth the trip to get there.
Peter Sidell @peter.sidell
I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.
