Kamakura: A Journey Through Medieval Japan Day Tours

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a Buddha statue in Kotoku-in, a symbol of ancient Kamakura and designated as a national treasure of Japan. The history of this bronze statue can be traced back to the Kamakura period in 1252. The Great Buddha is about 11.3 meters high and weighs 121 tons. It is second only to the bronze Buddha of Todaiji in Nara in Japan. Entering Kotoku-in from the Niomen Gate in the south, wash your hands in the Tezuisha, and then enter the central courtyard, you will be greeted by the huge Kamakura Buddha. This Buddha Amitabha sits on a high platform, and its face and posture are in the style of Chinese Song Dynasty Buddha statues popular in the Kamakura period. If you come here during the cherry blossom season, the Kamakura Buddha under the blue sky and white clouds is even more special. The Great Buddha of Kamakura was originally made of wood, but it collapsed due to the storm. Later, it was cast in bronze again. It is said that its whole body was covered with gold leaf at that time, and it was enshrined in the Great Buddha Hall. Since a tsunami in the Muromachi era engulfed the Great Buddha Hall, the Great Buddha of Kamakura has been sitting alone on the open-air pedestal. Around the corridor centered on the Great Buddha, you can see various stone tablets related to the Great Buddha of Kamakura. One of the stone tablets is also engraved with the sentence "Sakyamuni is a beautiful man". Inside the corridor facing the right side of the Great Buddha, there is a pair of large straw sandals about 1 meter long. It is said that children in Ibaraki Prefecture weaved offerings to the Great Buddha. Continue to walk to the back mountain, you can take pictures of the Buddha from a high place and from different angles. There is also a Guanyue Hall dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva. In addition, the Great Buddha of Kamakura is only a minute walk from Hase-dera Temple, which can be visited by the way.