# Great Buddha of Kamakura

> The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, 13.35 metres tall, cast around 1252 and a National Treasure. It sits in the open air in the courtyard of Kotoku-in temple. Entry is ¥300, plus ¥50 to go inside the statue. From October to March it opens 8:00–17:00. It's about 10 minutes on foot from Hase station on the Enoden line.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha

- City: [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura), Japan
- YesGo score: 46/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 40 min
- Opening hours: April–September 8:00–17:30; October–March 8:00–17:00; inside the statue 8:00–16:30
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: ¥300; schoolchildren ¥150; under-6s free
- Inside the statue: +¥50; 8:00–16:30
- Winter hours: October–March 8:00–17:00
- Summer hours: April–September 8:00–17:30
- Height: 13.35 metres, bronze
- Getting there: Enoden to Hase, then 7–10 minutes on foot
- Coordinates: 35.31686, 139.53572
- Facts checked: 09.11.2026

## Key facts

- **13.35 m** — height of the statue with its base (source: en.wikipedia)
- **≈ 1252** — the year casting began (source: en.wikipedia)
- **Amida** — the buddha the statue depicts (source: en.wikipedia)
- **National Treasure** — the statue's status (source: en.wikipedia)
- **Open air** — since the late 15th century (source: en.wikipedia)
- **Jodo** — the Pure Land school the temple belongs to (source: en.wikipedia)
- **¥300** — entry; ¥50 more to go inside (source: kotoku-in.jp)
- **5 minutes** — on foot to Hase-dera temple (source: kotoku-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.

> **Look inside** The statue is hollow, and for an extra ¥50 you can go inside and see how it was assembled from bronze sections. The interior is open 8:00 to 16:30. It's cramped and hot inside in summer, and there can be a queue at weekends, so come in the morning.

## 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

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

|  | Kamakura | Nara |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Setting | In the open air | In a huge wooden hall |
| Height | ≈ 13 m | ≈ 15 m |
| Entry | ¥300 | ¥800 |
| Inside | Yes, for ¥50 | No |

## 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.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] ¥300 and ¥50 in coins
- [ ] Arrive by 8:00
- [ ] Inside the statue — until 16:30
- [ ] Hase-dera next door
- [ ] Enoden to Hase

## Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo.

- [Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300
- [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free
- [Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/zeniarai-benzaiten) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free
- [Sasuke Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/sasuke-inari) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free
- [Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/hokoku-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥400
- [Kenchō-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kencho-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥500
- [Engaku-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/engaku-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥500
- [Hase-dera Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-hase-dera) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥400
- [Enoshima Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/enoshima) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

## 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)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300
2. [Hase-dera Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-hase-dera) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥400
3. [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free
4. [Komachi-dori Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/komachi-dori) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free

## Good to know

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is not Nara's Great Buddha at Todai-ji or the Ushiku Daibutsu statue. The temple is called Kotoku-in.

## Tips

- Come at opening.
- Inside the statue — ¥50.
- Eat outside the courtyard.
- Hase-dera is 5 minutes away.
- Next: [Hase-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-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.

## How we checked

Hours, 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.

## Sources

- 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

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