Iwaya Kannon, Stone sculpture in Oiwacho, Toyohashi, Japan.
Iwaya Kannon is a large stone sculpture depicting the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, standing approximately 30 feet (9 meters) tall on Iwaya Mount in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, and drawing visitors seeking spiritual reflection and connection with traditional religious art.
The original sculpture was carved during the Tempyo era around 730 AD by a monk named Gyoji and later reconstructed in 1950 after its destruction in the Pacific War, maintaining traditional carving techniques that reflect centuries of Japanese craftsmanship and religious devotion.
The statue represents Kannon, a central figure in Japanese Buddhism associated with compassion and mercy, and continues to serve as a pilgrimage destination where visitors pray for health, protection, and personal well-being, preserving ancient spiritual practices within the local community.
Visitors can reach the site by taking the Futagawa Line bus from Toyohashi city center and getting off at Iwaya Koen Guchi stop, with free parking available nearby, no admission fee charged, and the site open year-round for travelers interested in religious heritage.
The temple housing the sculpture features ceiling boards adorned with historical drawings by Edo-period artisans, including works by Onda Ishimine and Yoshida painters, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic traditions that accompanied the site's development over centuries.
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