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Great Buddha of Kamakura

The bronze Great Buddha of Kamakura seated outdoors at Kotoku-in, green patina against a clear blue sky and a wooded hill
Photo: 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥300; schoolchildren ¥150; under-6s free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
April–September 8:00–17:30; October–March 8:00–17:00; inside the statue 8:00–16:30
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
40 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Inside the statue
+¥50; 8:00–16:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Winter hours
October–March 8:00–17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Summer hours
April–September 8:00–17:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Height
13.35 metres, bronze
Getting there
Enoden to Hase, then 7–10 minutes on foot
Coordinates
35.31686, 139.53572YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

13.35 mheight of the statue with its base
Sourceen.wikipedia
≈ 1252the year casting began
Sourceen.wikipedia
Amidathe buddha the statue depicts
Sourceen.wikipedia
National Treasurethe statue's status
Sourceen.wikipedia
Open airsince the late 15th century
Sourceen.wikipedia
Jodothe Pure Land school the temple belongs to
Sourceen.wikipedia
¥300entry; ¥50 more to go inside
Sourcekotoku-in.jp
5 minuteson foot to Hase-dera temple
Sourcekotoku-in.jp

What is the Great Buddha of Kamakura?

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Kamakura Daibutsu, is a bronze statue of the seated Amida Buddha in the courtyard of Kotoku-in, a temple of the Jodo school. Casting began around 1252, when Kamakura was the seat of the shoguns. With its base the statue is 13.35 metres tall, and it's a National Treasure of Japan.

A hall once stood over the Buddha, but since the late 15th century the statue has sat in the open air, against wooded hills and sky. The bronze has turned green with age and sea air. It's one of Japan's most recognisable statues and the symbol of Kamakura.

Tickets and hours

According to the official site, entry is ¥300 for adults and ¥150 for schoolchildren; under-6s go free. Going inside the statue costs an extra ¥50. From April to September the temple opens 8:00 to 17:30, and from October to March until 17:00; last entry is 15 minutes before closing.

There's no parking at the temple. The courtyard itself is small: the statue, pines, a garden and a little shop. Eat and drink outside the courtyard — the temple has its own rules on this.

What to see

  • The Great Buddha — from different sides of the courtyard.
  • Inside the statue — the bronze sections.
  • Giant straw sandals on the gallery wall.
  • The garden behind the statue with its pines.
  • Hase-dera temple — 5 minutes away.
  • The Daibutsu trail — over the hills to Zeniarai Benten.

How to get to the Great Buddha

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. Enoden — from Kamakura Station to Hase, about 5 minutes, then 7–10 minutes on foot north.
  2. From Tokyo — JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura, about an hour, then change to the Enoden.
  3. From Enoshima — Enoden to Hase, about 20 minutes.
  4. From Hase-dera — about 5 minutes on foot.
  5. On the trail — about 30 minutes on foot from Zeniarai Benten.

Kamakura's Buddha or Nara's

Kamakurayou are hereIn the open air≈ 13 m¥300Yes, for ¥50
NaraIn a huge wooden hall≈ 15 m¥800No

How long do you need?

30–40 minutes is enough for the Great Buddha: walk round the statue, go inside, see the garden. It's almost always paired with Hase-dera temple, five minutes' walk away — about two hours together.

In the morning, at the 8:00 opening, the courtyard is almost empty; by midday school groups arrive. From Hase it's easy to carry on to the sea — Yuigahama beach is 10 minutes on foot — or take the Enoden on to Enoshima island.

Look out for the straw waraji sandals on the gallery wall: they were woven and presented to the temple so that the Buddha could travel the country. Such offerings are renewed from time to time.

Is the Great Buddha worth visiting?

Yes: it's Kamakura's main symbol and one of Japan's most famous statues, and entry is cheap.

The YesGo take: the courtyard is small and crowded with groups at weekends. If you've seen Nara's Buddha, this one will seem smaller — but it sits in the open air and you can go inside. Come at opening and head straight on to Hase-dera: together they make the best morning in Kamakura.

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Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)you are here4640 min¥300—
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree37 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine4430 minFree20 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrine4330 minFree15 min walk
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥4002.9 km
Kenchō-ji Temple381 h≈ ¥50042 min walk
Engaku-ji Temple371 h¥50044 min walk
Hase-dera Temple351 h 15 min¥40010 min walk
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5005.3 km

Kamakura in a day

The Great Buddha and Hase-dera in the morning, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine at midday, and the Komachi-dori shopping street in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)you are here40 min · ¥300
  2. 10 min walk from the previous stopHase-dera Temple1 h 15 min · ¥400
  3. 45 min walk from the previous stopTsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine1 h · free
  4. 11 min walk from the previous stopKomachi-dori Street45 min · free

4 places · about 4 h 46 min with walks · 66 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Hase-dera Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥400 · 10 min walk

Sasuke Inari Shrine

Kamakura, Japan

30 min · free · 15 min walk

Komachi-dori Street

Kamakura, Japan

45 min · free · 28 min walk

How to do it right

  • Come at opening.
  • Inside the statue — ¥50.
  • Eat outside the courtyard.
  • Hase-dera is 5 minutes away.
  • Next: Hase-dera.

Questions

How much is entry to the Great Buddha of Kamakura?

¥300 for adults, ¥150 for schoolchildren; ¥50 more to go inside.

What are the opening hours?

8:00–17:00 from October to March, 8:00–17:30 from April to September.

Can I go inside?

Yes, for ¥50, from 8:00 to 16:30.

How tall is the statue?

13.35 metres including its base.

How do I get there?

Enoden to Hase station, then 7–10 minutes on foot.

How long do you need?

30–40 minutes.

When was it cast?

Around 1252.

What's nearby?

Hase-dera temple and Yuigahama beach.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Temple official site (kotoku-in.jp) — seasonal hours, prices, entry inside the statue, parking, distances (checked 09.11.2026)
  • English Wikipedia: Kōtoku-in — height, year, Amida Buddha, Jodo school, National Treasure
  • Travel guides — waraji sandals, access (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q672056 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, prices, entry inside the statue and distances are from the temple's official site. Height, year, school and status are from Wikipedia; we don't describe why the statue ended up in the open air. The sandals and access are from guides.

Top YesGo picks: Kamakura

Kenchō-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ≈ ¥500

Engaku-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ¥500

Enoshima Island

Kamakura, Japan

3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

All places: Kamakura →