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Hase-dera Temple, Kamakura

The Kannon-do hall of Hase-dera in Kamakura with curved tiled roofs, stone steps and a gravel courtyard
Photo: Junichi, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥400; elementary pupils ¥200
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
Entry 8:00–16:30, closing 17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
April–June
Entry until 17:00, closing 17:30
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Kannon Museum
About ¥300 extra
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Highlights
A 9.18 m Kannon, a cave, a bay view
Getting there
Enoden to Hase, 5 minutes on foot
Coordinates
35.31246, 139.53299YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

9.18 mheight of the gilded wooden Kannon statue
Sourcejapan-guide.com
11 headson the statue of the goddess of mercy
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Among the largestwooden statues in Japan
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Jodothe school the temple belongs to
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Benten-kutsua cave with deities carved in the rock
Sourcejapan-guide.com
Junehydrangeas bloom along the hillside path
Sourcetravel guides
¥400adult entry
Sourcehasedera.jp
5 minuteson foot from Hase station
Sourcejapan-guide.com

What is Hase-dera in Kamakura?

Hase-dera, or Hase Kannon, is a Jodo-school temple on a wooded hillside in the Hase area. Its highlight is a gilded wooden statue of the eleven-headed Kannon, the goddess of mercy, 9.18 metres tall, in the Kannon-do hall. It's one of Japan's largest wooden statues; legend says it was carved from the same tree as the statue at the temple of the same name in Nara Prefecture.

The temple rises in tiers: at the entrance a garden with ponds, up the stairs the Jizo-do hall with hundreds of small Jizo statues, and on the terrace the main halls and a viewpoint over Yuigahama bay and the roofs of Kamakura. Next to the main hall is the Amida-do, with a golden Amida Buddha almost three metres tall.

Tickets and hours

According to the official site, entry is ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for elementary pupils. The ticket office is open 8:00 to 16:30, and the temple closes at 17:00; from April to June entry is until 17:00, closing at 17:30.

Next to the main hall is the small Kannon Museum with Buddhist statues and scrolls; according to guides, it costs about ¥300 extra. On the terrace there's a café with Japanese sweets and a sea view.

What to see

  • The Kannon statue, 9.18 metres, in the Kannon-do.
  • The terrace overlooking Yuigahama bay.
  • The Benten-kutsu cave with carved deities.
  • The Jizo-do hall — hundreds of small Jizo.
  • The Amida-do hall — a golden Amida Buddha.
  • The pond garden at the entrance.

How to get to Hase-dera

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Where are you starting from?

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On foot

More tips

  1. Enoden — from Kamakura Station to Hase, about 5 minutes, then 5 minutes on foot.
  2. From Tokyo — JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura, about an hour, then change to the Enoden.
  3. From the Great Buddha — about 5 minutes on foot.
  4. From Enoshima — Enoden to Hase, about 20 minutes.
  5. To Yuigahama beach — about 5 minutes on foot to the sea.

Hase-dera or the Great Buddha

Hase-derayou are hereA wooden Kannon and sea view¥4001–1.5 hours5 minutes apart
Great BuddhaA bronze Buddha under the sky¥30030–40 minutes5 minutes apart

How long do you need?

Allow 1–1.5 hours for Hase-dera: the garden and cave below, the stairs up to the Kannon-do, and the terrace with its view. The temple is almost always paired with the Great Buddha five minutes away — together they fill a morning.

The loveliest time is June, when thousands of hydrangeas bloom on the hillside — but that's also when it's most crowded. In autumn the garden turns red with maples, and in spring the cherry trees bloom.

In Japanese Buddhism Jizo protects children and travellers, so the small statues in the Jizo-do often wear red bibs and knitted caps. In the garden you'll also find cheerful smiling Jizo figures that people love to photograph.

Is Hase-dera worth visiting?

Yes: a huge gilded Kannon, a cave, gardens and a sea view — all in one temple and for a cheap ticket.

The YesGo take: many people come only for the Great Buddha and never reach this temple, though it's five minutes away. That's a mistake — Hase-dera is more interesting and varied. In hydrangea season, arrive at opening, or the queue for the path can stretch to an hour.

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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)4640 min¥30010 min walk
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree45 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine4430 minFree29 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrine4330 minFree25 min walk
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥4003.3 km
Kenchō-ji Temple381 h≈ ¥5003.0 km
Engaku-ji Temple371 h¥5003.1 km
Hase-dera Templeyou are here351 h 15 min¥400—
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5004.9 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)40 min · ¥300
  2. 10 min walk from the previous stopHase-dera Templeyou are here1 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

Sasuke Inari Shrine

Kamakura, Japan

30 min · free · 25 min walk

Komachi-dori Street

Kamakura, Japan

45 min · free · 35 min walk

How to do it right

  • Ticket office until 16:30.
  • Climb to the terrace for the view.
  • Look into the Benten-kutsu cave.
  • June — hydrangeas.
  • Nearby: the Great Buddha.

Questions

How much is entry to Hase-dera?

¥400 for adults, ¥200 for elementary pupils.

What are the opening hours?

Entry 8:00–16:30, closing at 17:00; half an hour later from April to June.

How tall is the Kannon statue?

9.18 metres.

When do the hydrangeas bloom?

In June.

How do I get there?

Enoden to Hase station, then 5 minutes on foot.

How long do you need?

1–1.5 hours.

What's nearby?

The Great Buddha and Yuigahama beach.

Is there a museum?

Yes, the Kannon Museum, about ¥300 extra.

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 (hasedera.jp/guide) — hours, prices (checked 09.11.2026)
  • japan-guide.com — statue, legend, halls, cave, Kannon Museum, access (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
  • Travel guides — hydrangeas and timed tickets (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q1034293 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours and prices are from the temple's official site. The statue, legend, halls, cave and museum are from japan-guide.com; the museum price is marked 'being checked'. Hydrangeas are from guides. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

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Kenchō-ji Temple

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1 h · ≈ ¥500

Engaku-ji Temple

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1 h · ¥500

Enoshima Island

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3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

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