Kotoku-in es el nombre más común para “Taiizan Kotoku-in Shojosen-ji” en Kamakura, prefectura de Kanagawa. Este templo budista Jodo-shu es conocido por su Diabutsu, o gran Buda, que es uno de los íconos más famosos de Japón.
La estatua, comúnmente conocida como Kamakura Daibutsu (Gran Buda de Kamakura), es una colosal imagen de cobre del Buda Amitabha. El Buda, que fue declarado tesoro nacional por el gobierno japonés, mide unos 11,3 metros de altura y pesa unas 121 toneladas.
El Kotoku-in pertenece a la secta Jodo, una secta budista tradicional fundada por el sacerdote Honen (1133-1212), seguidor de Amitabha. Según el sistema de creencias de la secta Jodo, todas las personas son iguales y uno solo tiene que cantar el "Nenbutsu" para recibir la protección de Amitabha y renacer en la "tierra pura".
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Kamakura’s Daibutsu is a beautiful bronze statue built in the mid-13th century (750 years ago). He has been meditating under the sky for about 500 years of those years, after losing the shelter he was originally housed in. When you visit, you might see him soaked in rain, or sweating under the glaring sun, or just enjoying the warm spring sunshine. Whenever you come, his expressive face will touch your heart. Kamakura’s Daibutsu has been kept intact, without any large-scale restorations since it was built.
The temple gate holds a plaque inscribed with Kotoku-in’s official name and houses a pair of Nio (Vajrapani) images inside the gate. Their fearsome faces are the subject of many visitor's photographs. The Nio were imported from another location in the 18th century.
On the inside wall of the corridor to the right facing the Great Buddha rests a pair of huge warazori. The warazori were first woven by children in 1951 with the wish that “the Great Buddha would don them to walk around Japan, bringing happiness to the people.” The Matsuzaka Children’s Club keeps this tradition alive to this day: since 1956, they have continued to make these giant warazori and present them to Kotoku-in once every few years.
A 5-10 minute walk from Hase Station on the Enoden Railway Line.
Kamakura merupakan kota pesisir kecil yang berjarak 50km dari Tokyo, dan menawarkan pengalaman berjalan-jalan yang menyenangkan sembari melihat berbagai situs bersejarah, kuil shinto, kuil buddha, termasuk patung Buddha terbesar kedua di Jepang.
Using animal-free products, brown rice, and locally sourced fresh vegetables, Ki to Toki creates masterful vegetarian meals that are not only delicious but a pleasure to look at. Try their set of 17 different dishes and fermented drinks with dessert and herbal tea or coffee after the meal.
Discover the taste that Kamakura locals are in love with. New German's fluffy custard-filled sponge cakes are a dessert that is sure to impress. The caramel custard flavor is especially popular with visitors.
Taste Aratama's famous fried pork cutlet and fall in love with the fresh flavors. Tonkatsu isn't all that's on the menu. Be sure to try Aratama's other dishes like mozzarella menchi katsu and cream croquette.
El Daibutsu de Kamakura es una hermosa estatua de bronce del Buda Amitabha que se erigió en el Templo Kotoku-in a mediados del siglo XIII (hace 750 años). Con una altura de 11,3 metros, es la segunda estatua de bronce de Buda más alta de Japón que solo es superado por la estatua en el templo Todaiji de Nara. El Buda ha meditado al aire libre durante unos 500 años después de que el salón del templo en el que se encontraba originalmente fuera destruido varias veces por tsunamis y tifones. Cuando lo visite, es posible que lo vea empapado en la lluvia, bajo el abrasador sol, o simplemente disfrutando del cálido sol primaveral. El daibutsu de Kamakura se ha mantenido intacto sin grandes restauraciones desde que fue construido.
The Kamakura Buddha, also known as the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is one of Japan's most revered cultural landmarks. Located at Kotoku-in, a Buddhist temple located in the coastal city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, this majestic bronze statue represents Amida Buddha (Amitabha), the celestial Buddha. Standing approximately 13.35 meters (43.8 feet) tall and weighing around 93 tons, the Kamakura Buddha is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan, surpassed only by the Great Buddha of Nara. The statue dates back to around 1252 CE during the Kamakura period, a time marked by the rise of the samurai class and the spread of Zen Buddhism. Originally, the statue was housed inside a massive wooden hall. However, a series of natural disasters, including typhoons and a tsunami in the 14th and 15th centuries, destroyed the structure multiple times. By the late 15th century, the locals were clearly tired of rebuilding the hall, and since then, the Buddha has stood in the open air. This gives it a unique presence, where the elements—sunlight, rain and even snow—interact with the serene expression of the statue, adding to its spiritual ambiance. The statue’s craftsmanship is particularly notable. Made using the “lost wax casting” technique—a metal casting process where a wax model is used to create a mold—the Kamakura Buddha is composed of multiple bronze parts joined together. Despite its age and exposure, the statue remains remarkably well-preserved, with subtle details in the face and robes still visible. Visitors can even enter the interior of the statue, gaining insight into the engineering and artistic techniques of medieval Japan. Kotoku-in itself is a temple of the Jodo-shu (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism. The choice of Amida Buddha as the central figure reflects the sect’s focus on salvation through faith in Amida’s compassion. Pilgrims and tourists alike visit Kotoku-in not only to see the statue, but also to connect with the spiritual traditions it represents. Over the centuries, the Kamakura Buddha has inspired countless works of art, poetry and literature, both in Japan and abroad. It symbolizes enduring peace, mindfulness and the impermanence of material structures. Today, it stands not just as a religious icon, but also as a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage candidate, embodying the cultural and spiritual heart of Japan.
Kamakura’s Hasedera Temple, a sister temple to Nara’s temple of the same name, is renowned for its 11-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. This Jodo-sect Buddhist temple is one of the oldest temples in the city and has roots in the eighth century. Legend has it that the monk Tokudo Shonin requested two Kannon statues to be made from a camphor tree in 721. The smaller statue was enshrined at Nara’s temple, while the other one was thrown into the sea as an offering. In 736, the statue washed ashore in Kamakura, and Hasedera was built to enshrine it. Hasedera’s grounds feature a harmonious display of traditionally designed temple buildings interwoven with lush nature and seasonal flowers, making for a peaceful stroll. Thanks to its elevated position, it also offers wonderful views of Kamakura’s townscape and Sagami Bay. The temple’s artfully crafted nature is on full display when you first enter the grounds. The welcoming garden features a pond encircled by plants, the small Benten-do Hall, dedicated to the goddess of music and wisdom, and Benten-kutsu Cave, which contains carved statues of deistic Buddhist figures. If you are hungry, refuel at the temple’s Teraya Cafe, located just before the entrance, or Kaikoan, which is built at an elevated level and boasts large windows with fantastic views of the area. Admission to the temple costs 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children (ages 6 to 11). Parking costs 350 yen for 30 minutes.