From the summit of Mt. Kannonyama at an altitude of 190 meters stands the magnificent statue of Kannon, the White-Robed Goddess of Mercy. Built of concrete in 1936 by businessman Yasusaburo Inoue, the statue measures 41.8 meters in height, weighs 5,985 tons, measures 48 meters around the waist and 0.4 meters around the thumb. The model for the statue was carved by the sculptor from Isesaki, Torizo Morimura.
The statue is a popular tourist spot, and also known as the first stop on the pilgrimage of the 88 holy grounds of Kanto. It was chosen as one of the One Hundred Togoku Flower Temples because of the more than 3,000 cherry trees and other seasonal flowers that adorn the surrounding hills making it a popular place for locals to relax.

The inside of the statue is divided into 9 levels and visitors can enter and climb the stairs to the shoulder of the Goddess. There are 20 small Buddhist statues enshrined along the way and the top level provides a sweeping view of the city as well as the Three Mountains of Jomo, and the distant Nikko, Chichibu and Yatsugatake Mountain Ranges. In 1998 the statue was awarded the Takasaki Urban Scenery Prize and in 2000 it was designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
Loved as the symbol of Takasaki since its construction, the statue’s compassionate and gentle gaze appears to be watching over the people below, protecting their peaceful existence.