Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)
高徳院35°19′ N 139°32′ ETemple
Kotoku-in suits anyone in Kamakura who wants to stand before the open-air Great Buddha and step inside it, and its trade-off is a temple with no car park, so you arrive by Enoden, bus or bike.
Photo lumoplank · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 and others, credited in the gallery
Visiting with care · Open to visitors
The temple's cycle park takes bicycles and mopeds only, and the temple accepts no responsibility for theft there.
- Eating and drinking on the grounds, and bringing food or drink in, are restricted.
- Smoking is banned everywhere on the grounds.
- Drones may not fly over the precincts, and selfie sticks may not be used inside the statue.
- Pets may enter only in a cage or carrier; service dogs are the exception.
- The Great Buddha is the main image of a working temple, so stand quietly before it and keep the path in front clear for people who come to pray.
- Personal photos are welcome. A commercial shoot needs the temple office's written permission first.
Kotoku-in's main image is a colossal copper Amida Buddha that sits in the open air, which makes it unusual among Japan's large Buddhas. For ¥50 more than the ¥300 entry you can climb inside the hollow statue until 16:30.
The temple stands in Hase, seven minutes on foot from Hase Station on the Enoden line, three stops from Kamakura. There is no car park, so come by train or bike. The temple's cycle park takes bicycles and mopeds, and Hase-dera is five minutes' walk away.
Worth knowing
- Arrive at the 8:00 opening to see the statue before the tour groups.
- The handwritten goshuin seal is written from 9:00 to 15:00; on some autumn holiday dates the temple gives printed seals only.
Quick answers about Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)よくある質問
Can you go inside the Great Buddha of Kamakura?
Yes. Kotoku-in opens the inside of the statue from 8:00 to 16:30 for ¥50 on top of the ¥300 entry fee.
Can I park a bike at Kotoku-in?
Yes. The temple has a cycle park for bicycles and mopeds, though it takes no responsibility for theft.
Can you visit Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)?
Open to visitors. Eating and drinking on the grounds, and bringing food or drink in, are restricted. Smoking is banned everywhere on the grounds. Drones may not fly over the precincts, and selfie sticks may not be used inside the statue. Pets may enter only in a cage or carrier; service dogs are the exception.
How much does Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) cost?
Prices at Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) start at ¥300 per adult (2026), about CAD 2.70 or USD 1.90 (October 2026 rates).
What are the opening hours of Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)?
Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura) keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 08:00–17:00.
How should you behave at Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura)?
At Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura): The Great Buddha is the main image of a working temple, so stand quietly before it and keep the path in front clear for people who come to pray. Personal photos are welcome. A commercial shoot needs the temple office's written permission first.
Within 12 km
