Kotoku-in
Buddhist temple · Kamakura-shi
4 Chome-2-28 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
Highlights
Iconic 13th-century outdoor bronze Great Buddha statue
Iconic 13th-century outdoor bronze Great Buddha statue
"Home to a 36-foot-tall bronze statue of Amitābha Buddha dating from the 13th century, this temple is a striking, must-visit sight renowned for its historic Great Buddha and often singled out as one of Japan’s most stunning temple sites." - Jessica Kozuka
"The draw here is the big Buddha (outdone only by the one in Nara). It's really big! And it's rare to see one of these outdoors (its temple was destroyed by a tsunami in 1492.) It's hollow, and you can go inside to see how it's made. Lots of visitors and street vendors outside make this more a tourist site than a spiritual one. Still, the Buddha is awesome in the true sense of the word." - Brandon Presser
"A trip to Kamakura reveals the Daibutsu, a 13-meter, 13th-century giant Buddha that’s an easy 90-minute journey each way and is free to visit with a JR Pass." - Matthew Kepnes
"At Kotoku-in you’ll find a 13-meter (43-foot) bronze statue of Buddha built in 1252 that now sits in the open air after storms washed away the building that once housed it; admission to the temple grounds is 300 JPY and it’s about an hour from Tokyo (free with a Japan Rail Pass)." - Matthew Kepnes
"I recommend a day trip to see the 13-meter bronze Daibutsu at Kotoku-in in Kamakura — an iconic statue built in 1252 that now sits in the open air (you can even go inside the statue) and is a memorable cultural landmark." - Matthew Kepnes
