⭐ Highlight
Great Buddha of Kamakura
Iconic 13-metre bronze Amida Buddha from 1252, seated in the open air.
Typical duration
45 min
Price
JPY 300 entry. Interior JPY 50 extra. (≈ €0.29–1.8 / $0.32–1.9)
From port
25 km / 15.5 mi
Transfer time
60 min
Indoor / Outdoor
outdoor
Queue risk
medium
🕐 Best time to visit
Morning for softer light and thinner crowds. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May).
The Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kotoku-in temple is a 13.35-metre, 121-tonne bronze statue cast in 1252. It originally sat inside a wooden hall, but a tsunami in 1498 swept the building away, leaving the Buddha under the open sky ever since. You can enter the hollow interior for an extra JPY 50. The statue's serene expression and weathered green patina make it one of Japan's most photographed landmarks. The temple grounds are compact. Combine with a walk along Hase-dera temple nearby for its ocean-view terrace and thousands of small Jizo statues.
Getting there from the port
JR Yokosuka Line from Yokohama Station to Kamakura (25 min, JPY 350), then Enoden tram to Hase Station (5 min, JPY 200). 10-minute walk from Hase Station.