1-Day Tour from Sendai: Sendai Daikannon Statue and Yamadera Temple – Spiritual Pilgrimages of Tohoku

Experience two spiritual behemoths, in size and importance, of the Tohoku region.

This tour will grant you a day of spiritual significance, historical interest, and natural beauty. Sendai’s Daikannon (White Robbed Colossus) Statue and Yamagata’s Yamadera Temple (Risshaku-ji) are some of the most breathtaking sights located in the Tohoku region of Japan. Both of these notably spiritual destinations boast grandiose height, ritual pilgrimage, and offer visitors a chance to connect with the prominent Buddhist history that has shaped much of what Japan is today.

Highlights

• See a panoramic view of Sendai City and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean
• Witness 108 unique statues within the "womb" of Daikannon
• Taste Yamagata's celebrated delicacy ita soba or give yourself some energy with chikara konnyaku
• Climb the 1,015 stone steps of tranquil Risshaku-ji
• Partake in spiritual pilgrimages important to Japanese Buddhism

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Sendai Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the stained glass window (“Morinosanka”) near the west side exit of the main concourse (2F). There are coin lockers available at the station if you wish to leave any belongings behind, but we ask that you show up a bit earlier to the meet-up spot if this is the case.

We will then head off to our destination, Sendai Daikannon Statue, via city bus.

Welcome to Sendai’s Big Buddha! Reaching 100 meters (330 feet) into the sky, Sendai’s Daikannon Statue looks over the city with a watchful, protective eye. Kannon is the representation of the Japanese Buddhist Bodhisattva, the Goddess of Mercy. This particular statue is the tallest Kannon in Japan and the tenth-tallest statue in the world!

She is officially known as Sendai Tendou Byakue Daikannon (仙台天道白衣大観音), gaining her name from her white-robbed bodhisattva form. She holds a wish-fulfilling jewel in her right hand and in her left, a water flask pours the water of wisdom. You will get a good chance to appreciate her magnitude and presence.

After taking some time to take in the breathtaking size of Daikannon, we will head inside to the "womb." This is where you can witness the 33 different manifestations of Kannon, represented on the ground floor by 33 different sculptures. It is said that through these various forms Kannon addresses an individual's specific afflictions.

Sitting adjacent from these 33 unique sculptures, you will find a row of 12 beastly creatures. These are the 12 Divine Generals and each represent a different month of the Chinese zodiac. Make sure you bring some coins should you want to donate to your specific zodiac statue!

Once at the top, you will descend the inside of Daikannon and witness the 108 Buddhas divided amongst 12 floors. Each statue reflects a specific earthly desire that keeps one from reaching satori, enlightenment. Visitors of this place of worship are encouraged to pray to these buddhas one by one to reject earthly desires and corruption. Selfishness, greed, bad health…The list is profound, but those who choose to come and reflect upon each of these 108 Buddhas are said to bring about good fortune and peace within themselves.

We will then make our way to our next destination via public bus and train. The journey itself will take around 2 hours, including the time between alighting the bus and waiting for the train.

Once we arrive at Yamadera Station, guests will be given some time to get lunch. There are many local restaurants and cafes in the immediate area. We highly recommend trying buckwheat noodles served in a cedar box. This is called ita soba and it is a specialty of Yamagata Prefecture where Yamadera Temple is located. You can also try the chikara konnyaku (power konjac) located at multiple shops around the area. It has a soy sauce flavor and a firm but chewy texture of konjac; a root vegetable native to Asia. It is believed to give you strength to make the long ascent if you eat it before visiting the temple.

We will meet back up after lunch to journey on toward the mountain entrance of Yamadera Temple, or as it is known by its formal title, Risshaku-ji. 

At the foot of the mountain entrance, you can take some time to observe the nationally designated important cultural property of Konponchudo, the statue of internationally renowned haiku poet Matsuo Basho, and various other spiritually significant temple structures.

Matsuo Basho made his pilgrimage to Yamadera over 350 years ago during his Oku no Hosomichi (“Narrow Road to the Deep North”) travels. His remarks of Yamadera Temple were written as such: shizukasa ya / iwa ni shimiiru / semi no koe (閑さや岩にしみ入る蝉の声). It roughly translates to: such stillness / the shrill of cicadas / seeps into the rocks. 

Basho’s lingering poetic prose still leaves a deep impression on those who visit the temple and bask in its tranquility today.

Your guide will accompany you to the top, pointing out spiritually relevant structures and giving you context to what they represent. The lookout on the top of the mountain temple from Yamadera’s Godaido is a view worth going up all those steps for!

Once at the top, you will have sufficient free time to continue exploring the mountain temple or choose to descend back toward the town for souvenir shopping, visiting a cafe, or for those who collect them, check out the goshuin shrine stamps available at the various temple structures.

We’ll wrap up our day by venturing on to Yamagata Station, where your guide will say their goodbyes. The tour will conclude around 4:30 PM. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations!

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SENDAI STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

The meetup point is at the base of the giant stained glass window called Morisnosanka (杜の讃歌), located near the west exit of the main concourse (2F). 

If you are arriving via JR lines, the stained glass should be located directly in front of you as you exit the central gates.

If you are arriving via a Shinkansen, please look for signs directing you towards the main concourse on the 2nd floor. If you go down the escalators you will see the stained glass window ahead of you.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the west exit. In this case, enter through doors near to the giant SENDAI letters outside the station and the stained glass window will be to your right or left.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We recommend arriving early as Sendai station can be quite crowded due to local train and shinkansen crowds. 

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• All train and bus fares during the tour
• Entry fee at all locations

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from the start and end points of the tour

Other Information

• Please note that this tour uses public transport, not a private vehicle. Due to this tour using public transport, timings are subject to some change if traffic is poor, train delays, or the day of travel is particularly busy. 
• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• It is recommended that you do not bring any luggage or large bags with you on the tour. It is advised that you check if your hotel can store your luggage for you, send it ahead to your next destination, or store your luggage at or near Sendai Station.
• There will be free time during the tour for guests to purchase food and souvenirs to remember their trip.