Kamakura Great Buddha

Kamakura’s great Buddha, or Daibutsu, is undoubtedly the town’s most famous sight and dominates the grounds of Kōtoku-in temple.

The 13.35m bronze statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple building, however after being destroyed many times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries, since 1495 the Buddha has been standing in the open air.

The temple is most easily reached from Hase Station on the Enoden line or from the Daibutsu-mae bus stop from stops 1 through 6 at Kamakura Station. We however recommend the Daibutsu Hiking Course , which leads from here past shrines and gardens for a peaceful 3 kilometres. The temple is open from 7a.m. to 5:30p.m. (half an hour later in the summer months) and entrance costs 200 yen