Ryozens of Kyoto

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Facts & Figures

You will find in Kyoto within the Higashiyama district three war memorials, which are located very close to each other. The so called Ryozens of Kyoto includes Ryozen Kannon War Memorial, Ryozen Gokoku Shrine and Ryozen Rekishikan. These are maybe not the typical sightseeing spots during your stay in the city, but it is always good to remember the suffering of the people who came before us. Unfortunately history always repeats itself. Best Ryokans in Kyoto Explore Ryokans in Kyoto >
Ryokans are the perfect way to discover old Japanese culture and traditions.

Overview Ryozens of Kyoto:
Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine
Ryozen Kannon War Memorial
Ryozen Rekishikan

1. Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine

The Shinto Shrine was founded to honor the heroes or better martyrs of Japan, which had a unique impact on the future of the country and died during the Bakumatsu period (1853 - 1867) and Meiji Restoration (1868 - 1877). Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine was built in 1868. When you walk up the hill you will see many tombstones, cenotaphs and rocks.

The gigantic sitting Buddha statue (Daibutsu) is a war memorial for the missing and dead of the Asia-Pacific War (1931 - 1945). The eye-catching statue, also know as Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, has a height of 24m. Ryozen Kannon was built in 1955 by business magnate and head of the Teisan group - Ishikawa Hirosuke (1891 – 1965).

3. Ryozen Rekishikan

The Ryozen Rekishikan museum opened for the public in 1970. It shows historical items related to the Meiji Restoration (1868 - 1877). No other museum in Japan is focusing on this time period.

My tips for local activities

How about exploring the best parts of my favourite city Kyoto with a local guide? The personalized tour by our partner GetYourGuide can take between 2 - 8 hours. For more details check out this page >