GODAIDO
Godaido Hall is pretty building perched on a small island on the coast off Matsushima. Godaido Hall enshrines five Nyorai statues.
Godaido was built by Sakanoueno Tamuramaro in 807. In 828, Jikaku Taishi enshrined five Nyorai statues. These five statues are disclosed to public only once every 33 years (last disclosed in 2006). The present building is a 1604 reconstruction by the local feudal lord Date Masamune. The hall's exterior is decorated by small carvings of the twelve animals of the zodiac. Godaido is very distinctive for its location on a small island on the coast of Matsushima which is connected the main land by a short wooden foot bridge.
Being raised on this small island has help protect Godaido from tsunami including the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami.
Access: 7 min walk from JR Matsushima Kaigan Station
Open hours: 8:30am - 5pm, 7 days a week
Admission: free