Next on our epic 1-day journey through Iwate Prefecture was the Daikannon at Kamaishi City.  As we left the outskirts of Ofunato City we saw a sign for Ryorigawa Dam.  Why not?  We veered off the main road and snaked our way through an unnamed village, possibly going the wrong way up some one way lanes, eventually ending up at the foot of the dam.  Got out at the top, snapped a few pics, then we were back on the road again.

Ryorigawa Dam Resevoir

Kamaishi City (the red marker) is famous for a couple of reasons.  From Britannica Encyclopedia (remember them?):

Kamaishi was a small fishing village until magnetite was discovered in the area in 1727, and Japan’s first European-style blast furnace was constructed in the city in 1857. In 1885 a government-controlled iron foundry was built using coal from Hokkaido and later using ore from China after the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95). Heavy damage was suffered during World War II, but mining revived after 1945, yielding magnetite ore. Iron and steel, mainly from Britain, are imported through Kamaishi’s harbour, which is also an important fishing port and part of Rikuchu-kaigan National Park.

Apparently Kamaishi is the main supplier of Japan’s pachinko balls as well.  The main draw to this seaside town however is the Daikannon statue.  We made our way up the spiral staircase to the top and took in the view.  Legend has it that those who visit the goddess and ascend the 204 stairs to the top will be filled with a great happiness.  I don’t feel terrible as I type this, so maybe it worked!

Some additional information, this time from the Japanese Buddhism Photo Dictionary:

“Originally a girl of T’ang China, who was selling fish on the market. She asked Kannon Bosatsu [Goddess of Mercy] to grant her a good husband. The wish was granted, and later the girl herself was considered an incarnation of Kannon Bosatsu. This form of Kannon (#10 out of 33) is now, in this area, considered the deity of young men looking for wives.”

We decided to skip lunch and make our way even farther north to Miyako City.  Originally I had planned to go to Anatoshiiso only, but in all honesty I’m probably never going to be in this neighbourhood again.  We would soldier on…

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