Great Buddha - Kamakura
last update: November 15, 2021
Daibutsu (大仏) is a Japanese word for a large statue of Buddha or one of his reincarnations, and the
Kamakura Daibutsu (or
Great Buddha of Kamakura) is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Japan. Its height of 12.35 meters for 121 tons, and almost eight hundred years of history, make this Daibutsu the most famous in all of Japan, perhaps second only to that of
Nara. The statue is located inside the
Kotoku-in Temple.
Hours and fees
- Admission:: 300¥ for the temple, 20¥ to enter the statue
- Opening hours: 8:00-17:30
- Closing days: none
- Other useful information: -
All the details about the Great Buddha of Kamakura
Historical background
Although neither the author nor the date of its creation is known with certainty, according to the most accredited thesis the Great Buddha of Kamakura today dates back to 1252, in the middle of the so-called
Kamakura period (1185-1333). During this period Kamakura was the capital and main center of power in Japan. An earlier wooden statue, made ten years earlier, was damaged in a storm, prompting the temple's monks to collect donations to build today's bronze statue. The statue was not originally located outdoors, but inside a wooden structure that was destroyed three times, the last in 1498 by a tsunami, after which it was never rebuilt and the statue was left outside. The Big Buddha was once covered with a layer of gold, and some traces of gold are still visible today near the statue's ears.
Kamakura Daibutsu in all its glory
What to see at the Kotoku-in Temple
If it weren't for the large statue it houses, the Kotoku-in Temple would be just an anonymous Buddhist temple unknown to most. The Big Buddha is therefore the only thing to see inside this temple, and is located at the end of a suggestive avenue surrounded by trees on all sides. If you have never seen such a monument, this is the best opportunity around Tokyo. The statue is empty internally and with an offering of 20¥ it is possible to enter.
inside Kotoku-in Temple
Some particular shots of the Great Buddha of Kamakura
How to get to the Kamakura Daibutsu
On foot
You can reach the Kotoku-in Temple and its big Big Buddha on foot from
Kamakura station. In total there are about 1.7 km and along the road you will find several maps and directions also in English. It is not difficult to get there on foot, even without using the GPS.
By train
450 meters from the Kotoku-in Temple is
Hase station, a small station along the
Enoden railway line that connects Kamakura station with
Enoshima and Fujisawa. From Kamakura station it takes 4 minutes and it costs 200¥. The street between Hase and the Kotoku-in Temple has been filled with little tourist shops in recent years.
Guided tours, activities and other things to do
If you are planning a trip to Japan and you want to do something more than just visiting famous places and monuments, we suggest you to use
Rakuten Travel Experiences.
How to use Rakuten Travel Experiences
Rakuten Travel is a very useful website to
enrich your travel experience, especially if you are going solo or it's your first time in Japan.
Because of the language barrier (and more), in Japan it is very difficult to interact with the locals and to get off the tourist track.
Thanks to Rakuten Travel you can find a lot of interesting and sometimes unique
guided tours and activities all over Japan (and not only in Japan), that you would otherwise never be able to enjoy.
But there's more: on Rakuten Travel you can also
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Some examples
Take a look at Rakuten Travel Experiences
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Kamakura Daibutsu in all its glory
inside Kotoku-in Temple
Some particular shots of the Great Buddha of Kamakura
