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Kotokuin (Kamakura Daibutsu)

神奈川県

4.3

Tourist Information of This Area

general.prefecture.

Kotoku-in, where the symbol of Kamakura, the Great Buddha, awaits.

Speaking of Kamakura, there is the national treasure Kamakura Daibutsu. It is 13.5 meters tall, and the straw sandals displayed inside are the same size as the ears of the Kamakura Daibutsu. They were dedicated with the wish of bringing happiness to everyone. The entire precinct is designated as a national historic site and is full of charm.

Features & How to Enjoy

Classic History

Highlights

Point 1

The Expression of the Kamakura Daibutsu, "Beautiful Man"

As expressed by the renowned Japanese poet Yosano Akiko, who was active during the Meiji and Showa periods, in her poem dedicated to the Kamakura Daibutsu, the expression of the Great Buddha is very beautiful, and one could say that it is indeed handsome. Despite the impression of greatness and weightiness, the eyes are plump and the mouth is gently closed, allowing you to feel the Buddha's compassion.

Point 2

Enter Inside the Great Buddha Statue?

In Kamakura, you can not only enjoy the exterior of the Great Buddha statue, but also enter inside it! In order to enter the interior, an additional fee of 50 yen is required in addition to the admission fee. The interior is spacious, allowing you to tour the back of the Great Buddha statue, which is completely different from the exterior. During Golden Week and summer vacation periods, there may be long lines to enter the interior. Also, since the interior is narrow, please be careful of your head and other surroundings.

Point 3

Don't Miss the Oversized Straw Sandals!

After visiting the Great Buddha in Kamakura, why not take a break at the rest area? On the walls of the rest area hang oversized straw sandals. These huge sandals, measuring 90cm x 180cm and weighing 45kg each, were donated by a children's group in Nakano-cho, Hitachi-Ota City, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is said that the message to the Great Buddha is "Don't just sit, please walk sometimes." This dedication has been ongoing since just after World War II, and it seems that they are replaced every three years.

Point 4

Numerous Stone and Poem Monuments

At Kotoku-in Temple, there are many stone and poem monuments. Among them, the most famous is the monument of Yosano Akiko's poem "Kamakura, where Buddha dwells, though the Buddha is not Shaka, but Amida, how handsome he is in the summer woods." This poem was originally criticized for referring to the Buddha as "Shaka" instead of "Amida," which is the Buddha statue at Kamakura, but later revised and the revised version is now displayed at Kotoku-in Temple. There are also other monuments, such as the one for Kaoru Kaneko.

Point 5

Plenty of Great Buddha Souvenirs

There are many shops around Kotoku-in Temple that sell souvenirs inspired by Kamakura's Great Buddha. The most famous of these is the "Daibutsu-san Manju," which faithfully reproduces the Great Buddha of Kamakura. You can choose between custard cream or red bean paste filling. The level of detail is outstanding, and you'll find yourself wanting to take pictures. In addition, there are countless other Great Buddha souvenirs, such as Great Buddha-shaped crystal candy and superballs with Great Buddha inside. Why not try to find your favorite one?

History

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, a National Treasure

Kotoku-in, where the Great Buddha of Kamakura is located, is a temple of the Jodo sect. Kotoku-in has walked through history along with the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is the principal image of Kotoku-in and is officially called the "National Treasure Bronze Amida Nyorai Sitting Statue". Although its size of about 11.3 meters does not match that of the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Temple in Nara, it is a very valuable statue that preserves the appearance of its creation to this day. It is truly a representative Buddhist statue of Kamakura-period Buddhist art!

Fee

Admission is 300 yen for junior high school students and above!

The fee system at Kotoku-in Temple is very simple, with admission costing 300 yen for junior high school students and above, and 150 yen for elementary school students. Please note that an additional 50 yen is required to enter the interior of the Great Buddha in Kamakura. There are also cases where admission fees are waived for those with disability certificates, so please check the various application pages on the Kotoku-in Temple website and apply as necessary.

Required time

Visit Takes About 30 Minutes

The grounds of Kotokuin Temple are not huge, so you can visit, including the Kamakura Daibutsu, in about 30 minutes. However, since the Kamakura Daibutsu is also a popular tourist spot, it's best to visit when there are fewer people if you want to take a commemorative photo with the Daibutsu. Also, please be aware that there may be a line to enter the inside of the Daibutsu.

Basic Information

	Address	4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa 248-0016
	Business Hours	8:00～17:30
	TEL	0467-22-0703
	Web Site	https://www.kotoku-in.jp/

Average Review

4.3

5 Reviews

初めて高徳院へ行き鎌倉大仏を見ました。奈良の大仏と比べてかなり小さいですが、有料（50円）で大仏の中に入れたのは少しビックリ‼️（笑）それにしても平日でも殆どインバウンドの人達ばかりで…ここは本当に日本なのか❓️と…😣 これだけ多ければ土日祝日は洒落にならない状況なのでしょうね❓️😱 京都同様に地元住民の人達はインバウンド問題で生活し難いんだろうなぁ…😭

2024年10月初訪問。ここの大仏の見所はなんせ天皇でもなく、貴族や有力豪族が作ったわけでもない民間の募金で鎌倉時代に建てられ現在に至るという点ですね。そしていろんな災害を経て屋根のない露天での大仏になりました。胎内に入れるのもここだけかもしれません。夏は絶対入れません(笑)日本三大大仏の2つ目です。一つ目は当然奈良。三つ目は諸説あるようですね。露天の大仏はなかなか、見ごたえがありますが、日本人より外国の熱心な仏教徒の方の方がたくさんいるような気がしました、線香を使いお祈りの仕方が本格的でした。

10年ぶりの鎌倉かな、平日なのに観光客がいっぱいで、インバウンド効果だと実感してます。ランチタイム過ぎたところで、高徳院前の交差点にあるそば屋に入って、鰻重を注文しました。普通に美味しかったです。立地的に入りやすいお店で、店員さんは英語とか喋れないようですが、外国人観光客にもしっかり対応した姿を見て感心しました。

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