All Reviews of The Great Buddha of Kamakura at Kotoku-in Temple

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a classic attraction you have to visit when you come to Kamakura! As you enter Kotoku-in Temple, the enormous bronze statue of Amida Buddha sits quietly outdoors, and the first sight of it is truly impressive. The Great Buddha is about 13 meters tall and weighs 121 tons. After earthquakes and a tsunami destroyed the Buddha hall, it became the unique open-air sight it is today. For a small fee, you can also go inside the Great Buddha and see the exquisite casting techniques of ancient times. After your visit, it’s also convenient to walk over to Hasedera Temple and see two of Kamakura’s classic attractions in one trip!

Kotoku-in Temple, home to the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is one of Kamakura's most iconic attractions. The main draw is the towering Great Buddha. Seeing it in person, its impressive presence left a strong impression, while its solemn expression made me feel calm.

After entering the temple grounds, you can admire the details of the Great Buddha up close and experience the long history of Buddhist culture. The surroundings are simple and peaceful, creating a pleasant atmosphere alongside the Buddha's solemn presence that makes you want to stop and take it all in.

Kamakura has such a relaxed, slow-paced vibe overall, so even coming from Yokohama, the trip never felt rushed.

As one of Kamakura’s symbols, I missed it last time because my schedule was too tight. This time, on my return trip to Kamakura, I made it my top priority.

I read a bunch of reviews beforehand, so I knew what to expect. The grounds are small and it’s basically centered around the Great Buddha—you can finish in about 15 minutes.

Worth seeing for a first visit, but I wouldn’t really want to go a second time.

If you come to Kamakura, you have to see the Great Buddha. You can even go inside, and the entrance fee isn't expensive.

This bronze statue weighs 120 tons and is the second largest in Japan, just after the one at Todaiji.

You need to pay an extra fee if you want to go inside the Great Buddha.

One of the three great Buddhas of Japan—it's really impressive! It's just a shame the road leading there is so narrow, so traffic jams are pretty common...

This is a must-visit spot. The straw sandals are super cute*