Hasedera is the Head Temple of the Buzan Sect of the Shingon School of Buddhism, founded by the priest Tokudo about 1,300 years ago, a sect today with 3 million followers nationwide. The temple is sometimes called the ‘Temple of Flowers’ after the profusion of the cherry blossom in spring and peonies. An imposing 11m tall statue of an Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva stands in the Main Hall, a national treasure, which is reached if you follow the corridor when called by the conch sounded at midday. There are special events from spring and autumn every year, when visitors can come and make special request to Kannon, touching the statue’s feet. Being the largest wooden Buddhist statue in Japan, it is an overwhelming feeling to gaze up at the image from the feet.

(Quoted from naranara05.pdf)