Great Buddha of Kamakura
The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental bronze seated Amida Buddha statue completed in 1252, standing about 11 meters tall and notable for having survived centuries in the open air after the temple hall that once sheltered it was destroyed by a tsunami in the 1400s. Visitors can pay a small additional fee to enter the statue's hollow bronze interior, seeing the casting seams from inside.
Kamakura itself, a former seat of shogunate power in the 12th-13th centuries, has numerous other temples and shrines worth combining with a visit, making the Great Buddha typically one stop within a broader half-day or full-day Kamakura itinerary.
Great Buddha of Kamakura FAQs
The wooden hall that originally sheltered it was destroyed by a tsunami in the 1400s and was never rebuilt, leaving the bronze statue exposed to the elements ever since.
Yes, for a small additional fee you can enter the hollow bronze interior and see the casting construction from inside.
About 1 hour by JR train, plus a further short local train or bus ride to reach the statue itself.
Yes, a modest paid admission, with the interior access as a separate small additional fee.
Numerous other temples and shrines, including Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu, along with Kamakura's beaches and hiking trails, make it worth a half-day or full-day visit.
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