A small hall, 5.4 meters wide and deep, is filled with as many as 12,000 statues of Buddha, each 20 centimeters high. There are hardly any other places in Japan that house so many Buddha statues. The sight of them densely placed in the room is spectacular and overwhelming. The records tell that this hall was built by a Buddhist priest in 1714 to appease the spirits of his deceased disciples and children who died while young. The statues were carved for their salvation. The local community keeps its strong faith in these statues, believing that they will bring good health, large hauls of fish, and safe deliveries of babies.
Shinzan Area
