Great Buddha To Get Major "Health Check-Up"

Above, the Great Buddha in 2004. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, the first G-TOUR to Japan paid a visit to the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

The Buddha quite impressive and was erected in the 13th Century. At one time, it was enclosed in a building.

It is about to undergo a "major health check-up". The last time it underwent a check-up was in 1959, a process that took over two years to complete.

News On Japan reported:

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is undergoing its first major "health checkup" in more than half a century. 

Trucks carrying the necessary equipment arrived at Kotokuin temple early Jan. 13 to begin the two-month-long procedure on the massive bronze statue. 

The 200 yen ($1.70) admission fee to the temple will be waived until March 10 while the 13.3-meter-tall statue is being examined and treated. During this period, it will be surrounded by scaffolding and covered in a translucent sheet. That means visitors will not be able to step inside the 121-ton statue.

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