Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)

Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This nearly 47-foot bronze statue of Amida Buddha is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Steve M
    Perth, Australia229 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cool Buddha
    Like others have said in the reviews, I wouldn't go too far out of my way to come visit the Buddha but Kamakura is a nice little town in itself so it's worth the journey. It's nice just to walk around and its not as busy compared to the other tourist locations which is always good. Apparently you can also go inside the statue but it was far too hot the day we went and it was closed off.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 12, 2024
  • Jeff K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,473 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Impressive
    The Buddha statue is quite impressive. It’s also located very close to Hasa-dera Temple which is another must-see sight in the area. We spent about 20 minutes here. There’s not much else to see but it’s worth it as the statue is very memorable. If you you’re going to Kamakura you should have this and the Hasa-dear temple as your top priorities.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 19, 2024
  • Brando62
    Saint Paul, Minnesota368 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Easy to visit
    Very easy to visit as an English speaker. From Yokohama or Tokyo take the subway to the electric train station and get off at the Kamakura station a short 3/4 mile walk up the Main Street to the temple grounds. Reasonable admission and access to inside the Buddha.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 5, 2024
  • martial51
    Vitry-le-Francois, France893 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    to do to measure the enthusiasm
    an enormous statue in a garden that doesn’t look like much. The interior visit is possible even if you have to be patient and wait in line. The statue is impressive and its neck would lean forward. Some traces of gold on his right day still remain
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 21, 2024
  • chowso
    Gloucester, United Kingdom1,745 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see
    This is definitely one of those places that you really have to see. The Buddha is huge and very impressive when you realise how old it is. You can go inside it (there's a small extra fee) and you can feel how warm it is when the sun shines on it. There isn't much else here and the grounds are small, but I think it's still worth seeing. There is a souvenir shop with some excellent green tea ice cream too. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't completely rammed full of people.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 28, 2024
  • Mellie2013
    Port Moody, Canada2,929 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful buddha but too busy
    We visited the Great Buddha on April 13. The cherry blossoms were late and fully extended. So lucky we were. Please remember to be mindful, this is a sacred place. The grounds are quite simple. The main focus...the Giant Bronze Buddha. Huge (11.4m)! Magnificent! Well aged...cast in 1252. It's a wonder to visit. We have nothing like it in Canada. We also enjoyed the guardians! The one deterrent for me was the crowds of visitors. Busy, busy, busy! Difficult to take a clear photo . So it was a quick visit and off we went. Possibly better early in the am or late in the pm.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2024
  • gsgman777
    Columbia, Illinois821 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An amazing build
    We took a nice day trip from Tokyo. This was one of the must-dos for our trip and I so glad we were able to fit it in. You don't see a gigantic 50ft bronze Buddha every day. This was made almost 800 years ago which is just remarkable. I had no idea we could actually go inside of it. So glad we were able to get out here to see it.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 25, 2024
  • Sacha J
    Paris, France399 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive
    Of course there are a lot of tourists here. We come to see one of the emblems of the country: the Great Buddha of the Kotoku-in temple. The large bronze statue dates from the 13th century. It is curious, next door, under a shelter, there are two huge straw sandals offered to the Great Buddha.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written June 29, 2024
  • Uranus2
    120 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Big Buddha
    Very nice Buddha statue in kumakara. In most days you are able to enter the Buddha inside to see how it looks like. However unfortunately when we went that day, the weather is very hot. Because of that they have temporary closed that visit of entering into the Buddha’s body. Quite a shame..
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 21, 2024
  • Milton P
    Deltona, Florida115 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Japan Trip
    The Kotoku-in Temple is a must-visit destination in Kamakura, housing the majestic Great Buddha. This 13.35-meter-tall bronze statue exudes peace and tranquility, surrounded by lush greenery. The temple's simplicity and natural beauty create a contemplative atmosphere, perfect for reflection.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,110 reviews
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1,416
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402
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Princes of travel
Paris, France7,528 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
This Buddhist temple, located south of Kamakura, is accessible by train via the enoden line taken from Kamakura station. Ten minutes walk to the temple where the Great Buddha, Japan’s national icon, is located. 13 metres high and weighing almost 100 tonnes, the statue is impressive

It is said that the statue was started in the middle of the 13th century. After suffering several damages, it was reinforced in the first half of the 20th century.
It is also possible to enter the statue, for ¥50 per person in addition to the ¥300 cost of entry to the temple. On the side, under a sheltered part, we can see the giant sandals of Buddha, hanging on the wall.

It is possible to buy in this temple objects related to the Buddhist religion or offerings.

Being very famous, there are many people. Avoid busy hours if you want some peace and quiet. Allow 30 minutes
Automatically translated
Written December 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Planet to go 🌍
Bernau, Germany344 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
From Tokyo to Kamakura it is only a roughly 1 hour train ride. And the visit is absolutely worth it. One of the reasons is the great Buddha. It is a „huge“ surprise, really impressive. You can go in inside for 50¥ , but I would not recommend it. It is supercrowded, not much to see, besides a lot of people suffering a claustrophobic moment. Enjoy the surrounding, collect your stamp for the memories at home. It is absolutely worth it. I recommend to take the bus from the station to there. First get out for the shrine and then walk over to the Buddha.
Written October 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom87Leioa
Leioa2,797 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Friends
We knew we were going to meet a colossal Buddha, in fact that was the main reason to visit Kamakura, but in reality it is much more impressive. Well visited by tourists, locals and schoolchildren, it is worth taking time and waiting for the number of people to decrease to enjoy it quietly. You can visit the interior of the monument, if you are interested in technical aspects.
Automatically translated
Written December 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tara B
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
One of the most amazing sights from my trip! I was completely absorbed by the daibutsu and it felt very serene. We arrived about 40 minutes before closing time and loved seeing it near sunset (quite early in the Autumn).
Written December 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alohatripper
Honolulu, HI1,743 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Not far from our Shinjuku hotel is Kamakura's Great Buddha. This is the town's main attraction -- not the Candle Tower, the Shrines and Temples, or shopping. It is larger than I expected. Made of copper, it is greenish. At one time, as the guide told us, it was covered in goldleaf, which can still be barely seen in some areas. Sitting on huge granite blocks, the Buddha's base has an entrance to the inside room. Like the entry and the inside room, there are separate fees.
Because of the light rain, we saw it from the shelter of the adjacent building's patio.
It is one of the historic icons of Japan.
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Quang Kiet Le
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam1,155 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Solo
The Great Buddha was in Kotoku-in pagoda, opened till 5.30pm and cost JPY300 to enter. The beautiful autumn leaves made it be magnificant. Absolutely stunning, and worth to travel all the way from Tokyo. A must in Kamakura!
Written December 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cheryl B
Honolulu, HI434 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
We got there early before any of the tour groups or others. The quiet, peaceful visit was just what we had hoped to have. One surprise was that guests can actually enter and go inside the statue. What an experience! After lighting incense, we continued on to our next place to visit which was the temple up the street.
Written November 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Evelin R
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
Visiting Kotoku-in in Kamakura was absolutely splendid. The Great Buddha is truly inspiring, standing majestically amidst serene surroundings. The history and craftsmanship are remarkable, and the peaceful atmosphere made it a delightful escape. Japan’s rich heritage!
Written January 8, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

コーヒーノキ
Sendai, Japan8,784 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
It is a major tourist attraction in Kamakura.

Along with the Great Buddha of Nara.
It is a large Buddha statue 11.5m tall made of copper
It was very powerful!

It is also designed to enter the womb.
You can see the inside of the womb through a very narrow staircase.

If you came to Kamakura
This is a must-see spot!
Automatically translated
Written January 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BigSpo
Edinburgh, UK357 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Couples
I’ve visited a lot of such sites in Asia but was very impressed here. Not the biggest I’ve seen but possibly the oldest. Worth spending 100yen to have a look inside it.
We walked from the main station, it’s a long way, discovered later the local train takes you most of the way…
Written December 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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