Kotoku-in Temple/ Kamakura Daibutsu

Going to Kotoku-​in to see the Daibutsu (giant Buddha) is definitely one to tick off of your bucket list — there are regular buses going straight there from Kamakura station, and is really worth seeing. It’s hard to believe that the buddha was built in 1252 (and you can go inside it, too).

I must say the seated great Buddha is one of the main attractions in the Kamakura area and exactly what I had expected. One major wow factor was that it was built in the 13^th century with bronze cast and must have been quite an undertaking. The construction may have only taken about 15 years because there was the mentioning of a the great temple that housed the Buddha after 15 years and no longer existed.
give it 4 out of 5 stars as this place is bit touristy and also it did not seem as interesting as the other shrines and temples I visited around the area.

This could honestly be one of the most beautiful spots in the entire world. The GF really wanted to come here so we did. It’s a bit of the beaten path from Tokyo, but it’s honestly worth the journey just to experience something besides an over populated city.
There is a huge Buddha here this is really a site to behold. You really can’t take your eyes of it and you can actually enter the statue itself to hear your own echo. We came on a day where the kids were doing class photos, so lets just say there were a lot of kids. Still we really enjoyed it here as it was very serene and majestic. It’s about 90 minutes away from Tokyo, but well worth it. Go.

This is an incredible thing to see, and the vibe here is just outstanding. You will marvel at the giant Buddha that’s been here for nearly 800 years, surviving everything from earthquakes to tsunamis. It’s a busy tourist attraction, and yet you can still somehow find a sense of peacefulness there; it’s just that fantastic and magical. Make an offering before the Buddha if you like, or pay 200 Yen extra and literally go into the belly of the Buddha.

Kamakura, c’est avant tout une histoire, celle d’une époque où les Shoguns ont pris le dessus sur l’Empereur. Elle fut la Capitale du Japon de la fin du 12ème siècle au premier tiers du 14ème siècle.
S’il s’agissait d’un âge d’or des chevaliers, il n’en reste pas moins que le Bouddhisme y a connu un essort important, avec l’apparition de nombreuses écoles.
Un héritage religieux et culturel fort y a été préservé.
Comme il est impossible de faire une review sur le site entier de Kamakura et ses nombreux temples, il paraît évident de laisser quelques mots ici pour ce qui est la plus emblématique place de Kamakura, le temple bouddhiste Kōtoku-​in et son majestueux Bouddha de bronze Amitābha.
Ce Bouddha est absolument superbe et sa popularité au Japon est immense.
Il symbolise la période Kamakura.
Haut de plus de 13 mètres, cette statue est creuse et il est d’ailleurs possible de visiter l’intérieur. Attention tout de même durant les fortes chaleurs, la température monte vite à l’intérieur et le bronze est brûlant.
À l’origine, la statue était recouverte d’or, mais il n’en reste quasiment plus de traces.
Si la visite de ce Daibutsu (Grand Bouddha) est indispensable, je conseille pourtant de visiter également les autres temples et sanctuaires qui font la richesse de Kamakura. C’est bien l’ensemble du site qui mérite en fait 5 étoiles.

My favorite spot in Tokyo isn’t even in Tokyo. Kamakura is by the ocean, about 90 minutes from Shinjuku. The most famous thing in Kamakura is the great Buddha. I love going to this place. I love sitting in the temple courtyard during various seasons, watching school kids on field trips, observing Japanese from all over Japan taking in their heritage and foreigners checking off another site in their guide books.
The thing I like most about sitting by the Buddha is looking at him. His peaceful outer visage is a reflection of his inner being. He is beautiful in a sublime, yet natural way. It doesn’t matter if I am there when it is sunny, hailing, raining, windy or icy cold (I’ve been there during all of those kinds of weather), there he sits.
I loved reading while sitting on the big stone to right of the buddha. The afternoon glow of fading sunlight in September is my favorite time to be there. I still feel the the autumn warmth on my face and the smell of rural Japan.
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A Unilocal friend reminded me that I had a picture of Kamakura up on my page, and I felt a bit stupid that I hadn’t reviewed this one yet, so here goes. If you hit Tokyo, you must take a day trip to visit the Grand Buddha which is one of my favorite Buddhas in the world. You are in store for a great photo opportunity, but I suggest that you get here as soon as possible, for this landmark is very popular with tourist and school trips alike. After you have gotten your spiritual Buddha on, head down the road to a small village where some cool restaurants and shops await.
One thing that I know for sure is that when I return to Japan, I will return to Kamakura, for as Buddha says, «It is better to travel well than to arrive.»

Making the trek from Tokyo to see the Kamakura Daibutsu is relatively easy. First you catch the JR Line to Kamakura, then a local Enoshima train (approx $ 2/​one way) to Hase. Then follow the crowds a few blocks to the temple.
The walk uphill to the Daibutsu goes by quickly. There are lots of cute shops and cafes along the way. There is a small 200¥ entry fee to enter the temple and an additional 20¥ to go inside the Buddha. The grounds are really not that big so aside from the big Buddha there isn’t that much to see or do.
I did buy a few things from the gift shop; chopsticks, rice paddle, & omamori. Prices were very reasonable too!
While I’m glad we decided to visit Kamakura and saw the Buddha one visit is sufficient.

Fun tourist destination. I’d recommend exploring the surrounding Kamakura area in addition to paying the friendly Buddha a visit while you’re there.
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Came here Oct ’14 with a small group.
The buddha statue is remarkable in that its some 700 – 800 years old. If my understanding of the history serves me correctly, the buddha had in medieval days been housed inside a temple. The temple was wrecked by some natural catastrophe, fire, or some other misfortune. It was not rebuilt. However the buddha has survived well to this day, likely with some renovations throughout the ages. Regardless, having the buddha sit out in the open does lend itself to an experience that is quite unlike any other shrine I know of in Japan.
I think the feat of engineering, durability, and lifelike design of the all the minute, intricate details deserve recognition. Note the curls on the buddha’s head, the details from the lotus blossom are all worth a moment’s admiration. For many, understandably, this is an essential destination for tourists visiting Japan.
Nonetheless, this site doesn’t offer a whole lot more to do. Besides having the opportunity to venture inside the statue, enjoy a drink at the fountain, and purchase touristy trinkets, shoot photos, there isn’t much reason to stay for long, as there isn’t much to do. While I think this is a great palace to visit if its part of exploring other parts of the area, I don’t think its worthwhile to spend and hour and a half each way on the train just for visiting the large buddha and nothing else.
I highly recommend planning other activities while visiting the Kamakura area. In my case, I enjoyed exploring parts of the town, a few more shrines, and had a good kaiseki lunch prior. I wish I could have also explored the seaside within walking distance. If you plan to spend several hours to come out here, might as well make the best use of time.
Overall, I liked visiting the majestic Daibutsu, but it may be some time again before another visit. Its worth a detour if you’re interested in the area.

One of Kamakura’s most iconic sights is the bronze statue of Amida Buddha. (Daibutsu) We even ducked inside the giant statue. This buddha is HUGE! You can easily capture a great selfie with this handsome buddha. You can easily spend a few hours exploring the nearby area or getting gifts.
There are so many tourists and groups, but try to separate that when visiting this beautiful place.

If you are in Tokyo and happen to have a half day free, visit the Kotoku-​in Temple, the Great Buddha. A quick train ride from the central Tokyo, this place makes it perfect for a quick half day sightseeing.
Take a JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura, then switch to a local Enoshima line to Hase Station. Or once you arrive at the Kamakura station, just follow tourists. So many of out there, you won’t miss it. (that’s what I did, just followed the crowds.)
Buddha is huge, you will see when you get there. So many pictures but it is actually huge, worth your time seeing it in person.
There are several other temples and restaurant/​shops nearby, you could actually spend as long as a whole day or just a half day, depending on how much time you have.
I enjoyed purple potato and green tea ice cream, fresh sardine rice bowl (famous local dish?) and bought several gifts.
Don’t forget to bring your camera. There are many photo opportunities and the Buddha is quite photogenic.

We came here on a holiday so it was packed with people! That did’t stop us from seeing it though, there’s an entry fee, though I don’t remember what it was, it was worth it. You also pay extra to see the inside of the great Daibutsu! Also, he’s much bigger in person, he’s HUGE actually! I didn’t expect him to be so big!
There are surrounding parks in the area and a little town area right outside of this park is also beautiful with the old Japanese homes and little shops.
I was thrilled I can check this off as one of the places I wanted to go to in Japan. Stunning, absolutely stunning!

Kamakura liegt ca. 55 km von Tokio entfernt an der Sagami-​Bucht. In der Stadt gibt es zahlreiche Schreine und Tempel, sie wird deshalb gerne von Tokio aus zu Tagesausflügen genutzt. Zur Zeit des Kamakura-​Shogunats war sie praktisch der Mittelpunkt des Landes, danach wurde der Regierungssitz wieder nach Kyōtō zurückverlegt.
Der bekannteste Tempel ist der «Kōtoku-​in» mit der grossen Buddhastatue, dem «Daibutsu». Diese 11 m hohe und über 90 Tonnen schwere Statue aus dem Jahr 1252 steht im Freien. Früher stand sie geschützt in einem hölzernen Tempel. Durch einen Tsunami wurde dieser Tempel 1495 weggerissen und seit dieser Zeit steht der Amida-​Buddha im Freien.
Es war geplant die mit Blattgold belegte Statue wieder durch einen hölzernen Tempel zu schützen, dafür wurden Spenden gesammelt. Diesen Plan gab man jedoch auf und verwendete die Spenden für die Verstärkung der Statue um einen sicheren Stand auch bei Erdbeben zu gewährleisten. Heute ist von dem Blattgold nichts mehr sichtbar.
Seine eindruckvollste Wirkung zeigt die Statue aus einer geringen Entfernung, also wenn man unmittelbar davor steht.
Fazit: Nicht nur der Buddha ist sehenswert, sondern auch das gesamte Gelände bzw die Umgebung in der die Statue steht. Dazu gehören andere Tempel, Gärten und Schreine.
Besonders berührt hat mich die «Jizo-​do Halle». Sie ist umgeben von tausenden kleinen Figuren, die für ungeborene gestorbene Kinder stehen.

Kotoku-​in Temple, the Great Buddha is well worth seeing if you plan to visit Kamakura.
The size of the Buddha statue is far more impressive when seen in person.
Within walking distance is the Hasedera Temple which is another impressive site with a beautiful shrine, underground tunnels, and really nice views of the coastline and beaches.
Kamakura and its attractions should be avoided on weekends due to crowds.

Le Daibutsu ou Grand Bouddha est une imposante statue de bronze construite en 1252.
Impressionnante avec ses 11 mètres de hauteur, elle est totalement creuse (on peut visiter l’intérieur pour 20Y).
Un site à né pas manquer.
Entrée: 200Y, ferme entre 17h30 et 18h selon la saison

Simply Amazing!!!
The omnipotent Great Amida Buddha of Kōtoku-​in 鎌倉市 Kamakura! 大仏 Daibutsu dates to 1252! That’s 1252, Yo!
This is my third trip to historical 鎌倉市 Kamukura! When I walk these ancient streets… I AM SAMUUUURRRRAAAIIII!
Apologies, I get carried away with history, but can you blame me? These streets resonate with bloodshed, betrayal, lust, and hmm wait. Nothing’s changed much!
Entry is 200-​yen and for about 20-​yen more you may enter the interior. This amazing bronze statue is about 50-​feet tall… The Great Buddha is located on Temple grounds, Kōtoku-​in 鎌倉市 Kamakura. The grounds itself is a museum of Japanese Culture. Time stands still here…
The Great Buddha, is of course, the star of the show! Hopefully he doesn’t wakeup and stomp on us… I highly recommend entering the interior at only 20-​yen, or like an American Quarter, to enter the Omnipotent Giant! Be aware that it is somewhat cramped and during the summer months very hot, so probably not best for older folk or fussy kids, but think about this… How many can say they entered a Giant Bronze Buddha from 1252?! I have! It’s WOW!
My degree is in History and my love of the ancient Japanese arts & culture draws me to this place.
The Great Amida Buddha was founded by Lady Inada-​no-​Tsubone and the Buddhist priest Jōkō of Tōtōmi. A giant wooden statue stood before the great bronze statue, but the original wooden one was destroyed in a storm of 1248. Jōkō suggested making another statue of bronze, and Lady Inada, despite the enormous cost, did not hesitate in raising the funds for such a massive project. Raising funds in 1248 Japan, was like give some yen or one hand gets hacked off, right?!? This incredible bronze was probably cast by legendary Ōno Gorōemon or Tanji Hisatomo. At one time this amazing statue was gilded in precious gold, and til this day… Traces of gold can still be located near the ears and face of the Great Buddha!
It’s interesting to know that during the «Kamakura Jidai“period, 鎌倉時代, circa 1185 – 1333 a.d., that Japan was predominately Shinto, yet in Kamakura, Buddhist Temples & Shrines flourished. Ahhhmazing sight…
The Great Amida Buddha of Kōtoku-​in 鎌倉市 Kamakura! 大仏 Daibutsu!
If in the Tokyo area, take the time to visit historical 鎌倉市 Kamakura! It’ll be like you never left 1252, fortunately for you… Carrying double Katana Swords is now illegal on the streets of Japan, but betrayal, lust, and drama still roam…
I AM SAMURAI! 侍!
SAYONARA & ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #244

Without a doubt, Kamakura is one of my top 3 favorite places on Earth, and I love most things in this town. We actually didn’t come here our first trip to Kamakura, because it was far away from the other temples. Instead we came on our second trip, and if you are in Kamakura, you should take the time to go to Daibutsu. This is the location of the Kamakura Daibutsu (‘Giant Buddha”) and is also the location of the kōtoku-​in Buddhist shrine. Daibutsu is within the shrine grounds themselves.
The statue itself was built in the mid-1200’s and although it has had repairs it has remained remarkably unharmed over the last 700+ years. Although Japan is a largely Shinto country, Kamakura has a very high concentration of Buddhist temples and shrines.
The shrine is open daily from 8:00am-5:00pm and it costs around $ 2.00 (200 yen) to access the shrine and access to the outside area where Daibutsu is. The statue is actually hollow, and for a mere 20 yen (approximately $.20) you can go inside the statue, which is pretty remarkable. I wouldn’t go in if you are claustrophobic or not well-​abled, because there are steep stairs and small passages. It can be very very hot inside during the summer but you’re only in for a couple of minutes. There are not formal tours, you just get a translated pamphlet and walk around.
Take the time to walk the grounds and look at the other areas of this shrine; a fully comprehensive visit will likely not take any longer than 30 minutes. This shrine is near several other prominent Buddhist shrines of the area, so you can do a tour of several shrines in a short amount of time.
This is a great break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, and takes only about an hour each way by train to get here. When you think you’ve got culture shock, jump on the Yamanote line, get off at Tokyo, Shimbashi, or Shinagawa, and then just hop on the Yokosuka line, which will take you straight to Kamakura. This is also only about 15 minutes from Yokohama, so you can go to the largest ChinaTown outside of China on your way back to the city.