According to legend, in the year 721 AD, two statues of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) were carved from the same sacred tree in Nara Prefecture, Japan. One statue was enshrined at Hase-dera Temple in Nara, while the other was set adrift into the sea, with the hope that Kannon would reach a destined land to save all beings and relieve their suffering. Fifteen years later, in 736 AD, the statue appeared in Kanagawa. In reverence, the local people built Hase-dera Temple in Kamakura to enshrine the statue.
Hase-dera Temple is built along the mountainside, and the vegetation within the temple grounds changes with the seasons, each bringing its own unique charm. From the observation deck at the upper level, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire bay. The main hall enshrines an Eleven-Headed Kannon statue, said to have been carved from sacred wood 1,300 years ago. Standing at 9.18 meters tall, it is one of the largest wooden Kannon statues in existence in Japan.
