"Visiting the Takasaki Byakue Dai-Kannon was an unforgettable experience. The statue is not only breathtaking in scale but also remarkable in its craftsmanship. Standing before it, you immediately feel the care and dedication that went into every curve and contour. The sculptors paid extraordinary attention to the smallest details - the gentle folds of the robe, the serene expression on Kannon’s face, and the delicate positioning of the hands all radiate a profound sense of peace and compassion.

Walking inside the statue adds another layer of appreciation. Each level contains carefully placed Buddha figures and symbolic carvings that highlight the spiritual significance of the monument. Even the interior pathways feel intentionally designed to guide visitors through a quiet, reflective journey.

The name “Byakue Dai-Kannon” means “The Great White-Robed Kannon.” Kannon (or Kannon Bosatsu) is the Bodhisattva of Mercy in Buddhism, a figure who embodies infinite compassion. The “white robe” symbolizes purity, benevolence, and the gentle protection she offers to all beings. This meaning becomes even more powerful when you see the statue rising above the landscape, almost as if watching over the city with kindness.

Overall, the Takasaki Byakue Dai-Kannon is a masterpiece - spiritually uplifting, artistically extraordinary, and absolutely worth the visit."

Stas K

"【白衣の静寂、観音のまなざし】

We hadn’t meant to find it — the great Byakue Daikannon (白衣大観音) rises from the hillside above Takasaki like a vision in white silk. From the road below it looked almost modest, but standing at its feet, the sheer grace and scale are humbling. Built in 1936, the 41.8-meter statue was meant as a prayer for world peace, its serene face gazing out across the Kanto Plain.

The temple grounds surrounding it are quiet — stone steps bordered by whispering pines, weathered Jizō statues tucked into corners, the faint scent of incense carried by mountain wind. Few visitors pass through, and that emptiness deepens the calm. From within the statue, narrow windows frame unexpected slices of the city below — Takasaki’s rooftops, trains threading through distance, all watched over by a silent guardian in white.

Afterward, a short descent leads back to the modern rhythm — a coffee at 蓮屋, perhaps, or a detour to the Daruma shrine nearby — small reminders that tranquility and daily life coexist easily here.

Leaving, I felt Takasaki itself grow a little warmer, as if this hillside temple had quietly lent the city its soul.

【Features】
🚶‍♂️ Access: 10 mins by car or bus from Takasaki Station
📍 Visibility: Clearly visible from afar
📜 Signage: Bilingual at main entrance
📷 Photo spot: Excellent from base and statue interior
🌳 Ambience: Serene, open, airy
🙏 Ritual: Small altar and incense offerings
🎐 Soundscape: Wind through pines, distant bells
🕰️ Age: 1936 (Shōwa era)
🐾 Local life: Occasional monks, few tourists
🧭 Off the beaten path? ✔️Yes
💰 Admission: Free (small fee to enter statue)
🔙 Would I visit again? 💓Definitely"

Onsen with Hansen 【温泉が大好きなハンセン】

"The place is easy to find. It is a walkable destination but there is a good part of the walk is on the road. The way up the hill is also tough at the start with steep incline. Otherwise, an interesting place of worship for the believers. In Japan, Guanyin (观音菩萨）is seen as a source of mercy and compassion, and her image and temples are common in Buddhist practice, such as the International Buddhist Temple (观音寺) named in her honor"

Dennis Tan