There aren't many giant statues in the world. And if someone thinks that the Statue of Liberty is one of the largest, then they are not right at all. The top five includes the famous Daikannon statue in Sendai, built in 1991. The goddess in a white cloak, as if hovering over the city, not only serves as a worship of the gods but also represents a magnificent engineering design: there is the whole world inside the statue.

The large stone statue (it is exactly 100 meters high) is a monument to the goddess Kannon. She holds the pearl of desires in one hand, and in the other – a vessel with the water of wisdom. Thanks to these attributes, she can fulfill desires if they are good and aimed at creating harmony and prosperity in the world. Kannon is also called the goddess of mercy because she teaches forgiveness and compassion.

Even as you approach this statue of incredible height, it takes your breath away. And it seems to be a huge single piece of stone used by skilled craftsmen to carve the image of Kannon. But in fact, it is not. The Daikannon is a stunning piece of engineering. And to make sure of this, it is enough to get inside the sculpture.

The entrance to inner zones is decorated with the open mouth of a dragon. And already on the first floor, guests are greeted by 33 statues of Buddhist gods, which represent the desires of people, as well as 12 statues – symbols of the Chinese zodiac calendar. In total, there are 12 floors in the statue. Some guests climb to the top on foot, taking this path as a pilgrimage. But if you want to get up to the most beautiful viewing platform in the city, you can use the elevator. But from there it is better to walk to enjoy all the beauty of the interior.

The pearl that Kannon holds is the statue's most important place, the Shinto temple, which keeps ancient relics and an ancient bluestone, a symbol of wisdom.

Along the way, visitors are greeted by 108 Buddha statues, which symbolize human delusions or suffering. If you need to overcome anger, jealousy or any other spiritual illness, you can leave an offering at the appropriate statue, and the Buddha will help you cope with this problem.