Photo: Sanjusangen-do

The sign reads "Sanjusangen-do," or the "Hall of 33 Spaces (between pillars)," which refers to the architecture of this temple. Its official name is Rengeo-in (Temple of the Lotus King) and it was built by Taira no Kiyamori on behalf of the retired emperor Go-Shirakawa in 1164. This hall houses 1001 magnificent Kannon statues carved out of Japanese cypress. Famous Kamakura sculptor Tankei fashioned the main statue. The hall suffered a fire in 1249 leaving only 124 of the original statues, the rest were remade in the 13th century. Photography is prohibited inside.