Trip Planner: Asia / Japan / Kanto / Kanagawa Prefecture / Kamakura / Kōtoku-in

Kōtoku-in, Kamakura

4.1

#1 of 324 in Historic Sites in Kanagawa Prefecture

Admire the monumental statue of Kōtoku-in, one of the largest Buddha figures in Japan. The towering bronze statue dates back to the 13th century and sits outside a Buddhist temple in the small town of Kamakura. Enjoy the view of the 13.3 m (43.8 ft) tall Amitabha Buddha, an imposing sight dominating peaceful temple grounds. For a small fee, you can venture inside the hollow statue to see the elaborate structural work that makes up this gargantuan monument. Add Kōtoku-in to your Kamakura travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Kamakura vacation trip planner.

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Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

2,108 reviews

Google

3.9

facebook

4.6

151,414 likes

S L

August 16, 2017

This place is about an hour train ride from Tokyo and there is quite a walk involved to get there from the train station unless you catch a bus. The neighborhood is nice though the Buddha and area was... more »
Milton K

August 16, 2017

A place full of Energy, and great history. The statue of Buddha itself is a survival of a tsunami of fifteen century. By knowing this you will have an idea how strong and solid is the statue. Huge, go... more »
phalanxye

August 16, 2017

A must see attraction when visiting Kamakura area. It's only about 10 minutes walk from the train station and there are lots of souvenir shops lined up the streets leading to the Giant Buddha. The ent... more »

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Laura Zakrzewski

June 15, 2017

Absolutely incredible to see. One of my favorite travel memories. Great photos of this amazing statue, clean and safe area. I hope I get to visit here again.

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Lynda Hogan

July 21, 2017

I was very impressed on my first visit many years ago. But not so much on my 2nd visit recently. However the Great Buddha of Kamakura is worth seeing once. Busy even on weekdays

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Jessica Turney

April 23, 2017

Fun day trip with much to do! Big Buddha is great to go see. I wouldn't go inside the buddha unless you are super interested in the way it was built, but strolling around it and hanging out in the area is nice. Outside the big buddha temple, there is a map with all the other temples and cool areas to check out. I would highly recommend temple hopping. There are some with great views of the beach and shore! The beach nearby is a great place to view the sunset. The food in the area is great too.

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Gary Chan

June 30, 2017

Great place to visit. I was told that the statue is there since the original temple was destroyed by flood. There is also a small garden behind the statue.

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Mahesh Kumar

July 17, 2017

I am indian, I visit in future to seen great budha. I love budha.

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Where to stay in Kamakura

Given the easy access from Tokyo via a number of public transport options, the vast majority of visitors to Kamakura choose to stay in the capital and head here for a day trip. If you feel there's too much to see in one day, then you'll be pleased to find a decent selection of accommodations in Kamakura itself. Down by the sea sit perhaps the most luxurious of the crop, with sea views high on the list of desires for those who stay here. Follow the river as it snakes inland past the train station, and you'll see a good number of more standard hotels, as well as particularly budget-friendly guesthouses.

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Kōtoku-in, Kamakura

S L

Milton K

phalanxye

Laura Zakrzewski

Lynda Hogan

Jessica Turney

Gary Chan

Mahesh Kumar

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