Sanjūsangendō Temple

Simply unbelievable Buddhist temple. We spent about an hour exploring the temple and gardens. We went close to when it opened in the morning at 8:30 am and there weren’t many crowds. No pictures allowed inside the temple but there were over 1,000 carved wooden warriors guarding the big Buddha in the middle of the temple. The temple itself was gorgeous with the wooden interior. Many temples/shrines in Kyoto you cannot go inside so this one was unique. Well worth the visit.

Very nice town and temple - worth your while! There's a huge selection of statues with the mini statues in the back - never seen anything like it in Japan. Strictly no pictures inside the temple - I'm posting the one in the brochure to give you an idea. All temples are always cash only. The gardens are nice and so is the town. There's also the national museum to visit if you have time

This was an amazing sight to behold. Fascinating and so interesting to learn about the history of this temple. Can't take any photographs of the statues inside which was a shame but understandable. Lovely gardens. Really enjoyed this. Wasn't too busy either really.

Relatively small and accessible temple easily reached by public bus in Kyoto. The grounds also have a small, but lovely garden with a pond. Inside the temple hall are 1001 beautifully carved wooden statues of a Bhuddist deity. The ancient statues are incredibly intricate, but each one is slightly different and unique. Well worth a visit.

Visiting Sanjūsangen-dō Temple was one of the biggest surprises of my trip — and without a doubt, one of the most stunning temples I’ve ever seen in my life. From the outside, the structure is modest and unassuming, but as soon as you step inside, you’re completely overwhelmed by the grandeur and beauty within. The sight of the thousand Buddhas lined up in perfect harmony is absolutely unforgettable, almost hypnotic. Standing before that sea of statues brings a feeling that’s hard to put into words — a mix of peace, reverence, and deep awe. Beyond the thousand Buddhas, the statues of the guardian deities are crafted with a level of perfection that’s almost unbelievable. Each figure is unique, rich in detail, with expressions and poses that reveal extraordinary artistic mastery. It’s the kind of place that makes you pause, take a deep breath, and simply take it all in. Sanjūsangen-dō is not just a temple — it’s a spiritual and artistic masterpiece that deserves to be experienced slowly and respectfully. A true treasure of Kyoto that touched my soul deeply.

This Temple is well worth the visit , and especially for the faithful. The 1000 compassionate Buddha's are impressive in the detail. You can only distinguish their characteristics of the first few rows. They go back up the hall. The protectors are also lifelike and real. They are described well in English, which is unusual. The signs give their Sanskrit origin and cross-reference the lineages of Buddhisim. The hall itself is huge and commanding. Try not to go in when group guides are gas bagging on as they truly ruin the ambience of this great hall . Just wait until they pass on. They are always in a hurry to keep group moving so you don't have to wait long. This Tempke is different from the others. After 5 weeks I. Just about all temples out, but I. Now I'm so glad I came. The gardens are small, simple, and elegant. Easy to get to by bus from kyoto station. About 4 stops. No photos allowed except externally. 600 yen entrance.

I have to say, this is one of the hidden gems in Kyoto. You can’t take photos inside the temple, so you won’t get trendy Instagram pictures or videos — but the experience itself is truly amazing. You shouldn’t miss this.

Simply incredible! Worth the trip to Japan for it only. 1000 quiet statues looking at you, plus the gods following your eyes with theirs, made from crystal. No other words can describe the feelings there. No photos are allowed inside and taking off shoes is compulsory.

On our second full day of sightseeing in Kyoto, Japan, we visited Sanjūsangendo, a Buddhist temple just a short drive from our hotel. During our last year's visit to Kyoto, we visited another Buddhist temple, the Dera, and a Zen-Buddhist temple, Kinkaku-ji or Rokuon-ji (Golden Pavilion), so we looked forward to a new experience at Sanjūsangen-dō. Just as with all of our visits to Japanese temples and shrines, we were reminded to be respectful of worshippers. They kindly requested quiet or silence and enforced restrictions for photography, video, cellphone use, smoking, or eating within the temple. Because it was raining during our visit, we carefully placed our wet umbrellas in the umbrella caddy, removed our shoes, and placed them on the designated racks for our group. We could feel the cold air and outside temperature coming up through the lightly carpeted wooden floors through our socks. As we followed the hallway leading to the worship hall, the heady scent of burning incense tickled my throat and immediately reminded me of childhood visits to my paternal grandparents home in Honolulu's old Chinatown. We noticed many parts of the worship hall and statues were blackened from the soot of centuries of burning incense. We were aware of the hugeness of this temple since it is Japan's longest wooden main hall (hōndo) structure measuring at 120 meters or slightly more than 390 feet. Its name (Sanjūsangen-dō) means "33 intervals" which comes from the number of intervals between the building's support columns or the traditional method of building size measurement. Our guide told us this temple hosts an archery competition called "Ōmato" or "Coming of Age" along 60 meters of the length of the hōndo. The competition brings in thousands of 20 year-old male and female contestants from all-around Japan. Shucks, we missed seeing the competition as it was held in January. As soon as we rounded the first right turn into the worship hall, we were amazed by the sight of a of the 1001 standing statues of the Thousand-armed Buddhist deity, Kannon (goddess of Mercy) and at its center, a gigantic seated statue of Kannon. At each side of the hall of statues, there were dynamic and powerful statues of the Wind God and Thunder God. All of the statues were carved from Japanese cypress, and most date back to the mid-12th Century. We also found the statues interesting to look at because each facial expression of the standing deity, Kannon, was different and not duplicated. Our amazement and excitement to the 12th Century carved wood Kannon statues nearly matched our mid-90s travel experience to view X'ian, China's terracotta warriors. We'd love to return to witness the Ōmato National Archery Competition and feel the sense of peace and calm from walking through Sanjūsangen-dō.

I was the only one to show up for a sushi making class and the instructor told me via google translate that his favorite site in Kyoto was Sanjūsangen-dō. It wasn't even on my list to do, but I'll always follow a local recs. Shoutout to my guy Hiko! I walked into Sanjūsangen-dō, paid the 600 yen entry fee and was surprised that there is a strict no photo rule. I was initially perturbed, as how am I going to tell people about this experience without showing them pictures, but quickly checked myself about how self serving that attitude is. I was floored right when I walked in. This place is AWESOME. There are 1,000 5.5 foot tall statues of the Buddhist Deity of mercy, Kannon, which accompany the main 11 foot tall statue of a Kannon. The no photo rule turned out to be a blessing, as it was nice that tourists weren't fighting to get the best picture. They were just enjoying the site for the sake of the beauty and reverence. I always get existential in places like this and proud of our species. Like damn, human beings made something so cool. My only note is that there is an offering section where you can donate 500-100 yen for "good luck." I wonder how Kannon would feel about that... IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

Beautiful temple. You can't take photos inside, but you can of the outside garden area! Beautiful flower and plants with great architecture. A must if you come to Japan!

Touristing in Kyoto, Japan... Sanjusangen-do is a hall with 33 (sanjusan in Japanese language) spaces between the columns. It houses 1001 statues of the Buddhist deity, Kannon, the goddess of Mercy. It is the longest wooden structure in Japan. Visitors aren't allowed to take photos of the statues, unfortunately. We're lucky that our tour included a visit to this site. The bus dropped us off and picked us up. It was quite interesting!

Special historical tour. Pretty incredible to see 1001 Buddha statues. the gigantic Buddha, and the display of arrows and archery bows. Self-guided tour with many informational posters. No photos allowed inside. Loving, peaceful walk around the Temple.

Sanjusangen-do is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto. It is also very unique looking. The main building of the temple grounds is a super long and narrow building that inside has more than 1000 wooden statues of the Buddhist goddess of compassion, Kannon. The statues have been covered in gold for an beautiful look. I found this place one of the more boring temples I visited in Kyoto. The main building is a plain looking brown building and also, no photos are allowed inside. There is a garden area but it was not too impressive compared to the ones in other temples. It's worth having a look just to see the statues, but Kyoto offers much more.

Sanjusangen-do is a unique historical site you can visit easily in less than an hour. This smaller Buddhist temple houses an astonishing 1001 statues in its main massive room. Though about 990 are nearly identical, each was individually hand built and crafted by a sculptor. The other statues are specific Hindu gods, each with its unique powerful presence. Unfortunately, pictures aren't allowed, so I played the good tourist. But there are plenty of nice photos on Yelp and the internet by less scrupulous tourists. Though the temple dates back to 1164, its gone through some massive restorations over the centuries as nature's elements and fires having taken their toll. The surrounding manicured peaceful garden is small but pleasant enough worthy of a 10-15 minute stroll before heading out. Sanjusangen-do is definitely worth a quick visit if you have time.

My cousin Hiro was kind enough to drive us from Wakayama to Kyoto to see the 1001 statues of the Buddhist deity, Juichimen-senju-sengen Kanzeon or Kannon. 1000 standing statues and 1 gigantic seated statue is housed in the Temple hall. These statues are made of Japanese cypress and absolutely stunning. My mother told me if I looked long enough & if I was lucky I would be able to find my face amongst them. I kept seeing my mother & sister in the faces but unfortunately I didn't see my visage staring back at me. The cypress is coated with layer after layer of lacquer then colored gold. Many of the statues are faded but it is not hard to visualize how beautiful they were in the 13th century. At opposite sides of the temple hall & standing before the statues are the images of the Thunder God and the Wind God. These statues are powerful, dynamic & a bit frightening. Whoever carved these infused a bit of life into these beautiful representations of thunder & wind. Between these two running in a straight line along the hall are 28 images of the guardian deities. These deities trace their origins to Hindu mythology. These statues were once colorful but are now faded & look a bit dark standing silent in front of the 1001 gold hued Kannons. No pictures are allowed in the hall and of course no shoes. In front of each guardian deity is a wooden box for donations & to pray to that particular deity. The gift shop was wonderfully stocked with prayer cards & special prayers for: good health, success, etc. I picked out several for friends. The grounds are beautiful with several buildings and a garden where there were a few late blooming cherry trees.

Sanjusangen-do is an impressive temple on the inside but its exterior isn't really so. On the inside it has 1,001 amazing golden statues carved out of Japanese cypress. Most of them all pretty much look the same, but there are some that are extremely unique. The sheer number is impressive but the craftsmanship is outstanding as well. They were carved between the 12th and 13th centuries!!!! There is a small area in the center of the first hall where people actually conduct prayer/meditation. It is sad that you cannot take pictures of the statues since they are so incredible. There is a cool gift shop on the temple grounds. The garden area is pretty nice but not the nicest you'll see in Kyoto. It has a beautiful pond surrounded by a pretty garden!!!! What can I do without at Sanjusangen-do? NO PICTURES ARE ALLOWED INSIDE!!!! What stands out at Sanjusangen-do? The amount of ancient wooden statues inside and their craftsmanship!!!! 5 stars!!!! Sanjusangen-do is really, really ridiculously great!!!!

This popular spot in Kyoto, also known as the Hall of 1001 Kannon, is located in the Eastern part of Kyoto. It is an amazing site to see so many Bodhisattva statues in the long hall, each painstakingly constructed from wood and well preserved for hundreds of years. Walking through the long and quiet space while looking at the different faces is both an awesome and eerie feeling. Aside from the many Kannon statues, there is also a little garden area outside, as well as some displays along the back, inside the temple, some of which talk about an interesting archery tournament that takes place there.

A unique, but crowded temple. As a contrast to the tranquil small temples set amid gardens, Sanjusan Gendo Temple is a large wooden structure (largest in Japan) that can accommodate thousands of people. Inside are 1001 statutes of Kannon, the goddess of Mercy. Other than the statutes, the interior of the temple isn't particularly interesting or beautiful. But I'd recommend visiting to see the statutes. No photography allowed in the temple.

A very nice temple that houses 1001 statues of Kannon, along with several other deities. A thousand life sized statues housed together is an impressive sight to see. Shoes need to be taken off before going in, and photographs are not allowed. It's quiet, and you get to slowly stroll and read the information about the statues. A small garden area is outside, and benches to sit and rest. After viewing the temple, you can either go across the street for the Kyoto National Museum, or walk 25 minutes to Kiyomizu Dera Temple.

This is one of my favorite spots and perhaps the most impressive sight that matches Todaiji's bronze Buddha in Japan! Sanjusangendo, or the "33 Interval Hall" for the thirty-three gaps between the pillars, makes up its lack of height with its length as Japan's longest wooden structure. The building is so long that it is the site of the annual archery tradition that includes firing as many arrows as you can to the other end for 24 hours! However, the extraordinary building length is not the impressive part. The most impressive part about Sanjusangendo is the mind-blowing display of 1000 lacquered wooden statues of thousand-hand Kannon that were made at least 700 years ago! At first sight, all statues look identical but upon further inspection, there are subtle differences in details like the robe pattern and lacquer layer because they are made by at least four master craftsmen. Accompanying with the Kannon crowd are the equally beautiful statues of twenty-eight Buddhist guardian deities and two Japanese weather gods (wind and thunder gods) that may make you mistaken them to be living beings because of the extreme details especially on their expressions. Yet, the awe factor does not stop until you reach the center to witness a massive thousand-hand Kannon statue. Though it was made almost a century ago, the lacquered wooden colossus still maintain its details and magnificence to appear both towering and intimate to the immediate sentiment beings that Kannon vowed to save. Sanjusangendo is a must-go destination for all Kyoto tourist, because the scale and the grandeur are enough to impress even without any appreciation for Buddhist art. No photography is allowed inside, but it'll definitely leave you an impression even without a physical way to do so! --- tl;dr version: 1) Most impressive sight in Japan that parallels Todaiji's Daibutsu 2) (Literally) Tons of lively Buddhist statues from the Kamakura era

I really enjoyed my time visiting this temple in Kyoto. The price is 600 yen per person to enter, and really worth it. The outside has a beautiful little garden area, otherwise just lots of gravel and pavement to walk around. The real deal is inside, where there are 1001 buddha statues and 33 pillars for you to marvel at and worship, if you choose. No photos are allowed inside, which makes for a very pleasant and selfie-stick-free viewing. Each statue is so intricately detailed and unique; it is very impressive to consider. Highly recommended.

The temple itself is not as beautiful as some of the more popular temples in Kyoto, but it is unique in the 1001 statues. You should know that you're not allowed to take pictures of the statues or of the temple interior, so this may influence your desire to come here. The grounds are ok, not the best, but at least it was moderately sized so it made the admission seem more worthwhile. Other temples I visited: Kiyomizu-dera, Tenryu-ji, Gio-ji. This one ranks 3rd.

The thing that I learned here is that they have archery competitions along the outside of the longest building. It is a small excursion to take on your way to other places nearby. Inside the long building, there are 1000 golden statues of Kannon with a giant Buddha in the center. As usual with these types of places, no photography allowed inside. Entrance fee: 600 yen for adults

If you're planning on only going to one temple in Kyoto, I would suggest this one be it. Out of the 10+ I went to this week, this was the most impressive. It was also the most quiet and least filled with tourists out of all of the places I went. Show up in the hour or two before closing time and it'll be EMPTY and you'll really be able to enjoy its beauty. Sanjusangen-do means 33 pillars, although beautiful the name should be about the 1001 Kannon statues inside. There are ONE THOUSAND Golden statues of Kannon, which if you look hard enough you're supposed to be able to find one that you see yourself in. As hard as I looked, I saw the subtle differences between the statues, but I couldn't find myself. I guess I must have been in the further back rows..... The final Kannon is HUGE and I think, not shown in the tourist guidebooks enough. The garden outside is huge and has tons of seats to sit and enjoy the fresh air. You must take your shoes off outside and there is NO photography allowed inside. There is a small gift shop selling omikuji, books, art and some Japanese snacks. No drinks.

When I went there for the first time I was super surprised because of human sized 1001 statues of 1000-armed Kannon, the goddess of mercy. I have seen the photo of these but actual view is totally different...Together they make for an strong impact. Honestly it made me scared pretty much because at the moment I was a 10 years old I guess. It is said that there is the face of person whom you want to meet in 1001 statues. There are some famous temples around there and you can enjoy and walk around all the day. If you want to see something unique, you should drop into here! Admission adult 600yen High/junior high school students 400 yen Children 300yen

Once you step inside, you'll immediately know that this is one of the most impressive shrines in Kyoto. You don't want to miss it. It's also a nice walk from Kyoto Station to start off your visit.

Beautiful. Must-do if in the area. Incredible hall with surprises in store. Don't read much about it. Just go!

I was astonished by its long frontage. I've never seen such a long hall of Buddhist temple. The reason lies in the unique name of "Sanjyu Sangendo". It has a hall of thirty-three spaces between the pillars from north to south. The Bodhisattva called Kannon appears in thirty-three different sights to rescue people in some troublesome or disasters. The main hall which is now designated national treasure was established in the economic assistance of Tairano Kiyomori. However the hall was burnt down by fire and later it was recostructed. Inside the wooden image of one thousand-armed Bodhisattva is reposed. It is designated as important cultural assets. It is very rare and a must to see. A very unique figure. 　Its number is 1000. In addition, you feel horror at the scary face of Thunder, Wind Gods. When I first saw the figures, I made an oath that I would never do bad things from now on. Tips: If you come here, you must bring your steps in Kyoto National Museum. You will be enchanted by its retro outward appearance. An archery competition called "Oomato Taikai" is held in January. The sight of the participants in Kimono clad who reach 20 years old is awesome!! So please check it!

This is definitely a must-see for any tourist in Kyoto! The 1001 Buddha statues are unbelievable. We went here on a full day tour, and this was definitely my favorite sightseeing spot. Also, my friend and I met a group of 4 people who were also touring around Japan, and was on day 3 of sightseeing. After visiting the Sanjusangendo hall, they all agreed that was the best temple/shrine they had visited. The only downside is that photography inside is strictly prohibited; all the more reason to visit it in person!

I haven't been reviewing all of the temples I visited - not enough time to write that many reviews. But I will review this one, as it's pretty incredible. No pictures are allowed of the inside, but the sight of all the 1001 hand carved and gold covered Kannon statues is truly impressive - what a labor of faith, not to mention the other statues and carvings inside. I don't think pictures truly do it justice anyway, but this is one of the only places where I've bought anything from a temple gift shop - a very nice color book that contained photos of the inside. I couldn't resist, since the inside is so stunning that I wanted proof of what I saw. Well worth the very reasonable admission.

This place is worth checking out for sure. For some reason I didn't have it on our itinerary but we stumbled in on our way to another site. The hall is massive with many unique statues, you really have to see it to understand. There's a small garden outside to walk around and it's a good quick site to see.