🏛️ Awaji Kannon

Awaji Kannon, or World Peace Giant Kannon, was a large gypsum statue, museum and temple complex on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The statue, which was one of the tallest in the world, had an observation deck at the top. It opened in 1982. Despite high numbers of visitors when it first opened, the statue fell into disrepair and was closed in 2006. Locals believed it was haunted. Sixteen years later, the Japanese government announced it would demolish the statue after acquiring the site in 2022. Site work was completed by March 2023.