Daifuku-ji 大福寺

Kannon Hall with vivid colors

Daifuku-Ji in Tateyama City is referred to as Gakke Kannon because it is built into the side of a mountain. The red Kannon Hall is high up, so it's easy to spot from the main road. The temple site dates from the 8th century and the original building was destroyed in earthquakes, fires, and storms. I didn't expect much from it, but it's quite breathtaking, hanging from the cliff. The main Buddhist image is a Kannon figure carved in the rock face which you can see in the main sanctuary. The hall itself is quite beautiful with a ceiling decorated with illustrations of animals and plants painted by the local people. On the north wall of the hall is a plaque listing all the names of the artists. The veranda of the hall looks out over Tateyama's harbor and catches the breezes off the water. It feels a little like you're on the deck of a boat up there with the wind in your hair. Quite fitting since the hall's history says the Kannon figure was carved by a Buddhist sage as a blessing for the fishing community there.