Kamakura — Great Buddha & Hase-dera
Japan's second-largest bronze Buddha (13.35m) has sat in the open air since its covering hall collapsed in a 1498 tsunami — and the sea salt and centuries have given it extraordinary patina. Nearby Hase-dera temple has 10,000 hydrangeas on the hillside and a sea-view cave of Kannon statues that defines Kamakura.
Half day
¥200 (Great Buddha), Hase-dera ¥400
Great Buddha: 8:00–17:30 (Apr–Sep), 8:00–17:00 (Oct–Mar); Hase-dera: 8:00–17:00, close 17:30 (Apr–Jun), 8:00–16:30, close 17:00 (Jul–Mar)
June (hydrangeas), March–April (cherry), Year-round
Hase Station on Enoden Line (about 5 min from Kamakura Station)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
The Great Buddha has sat outdoors since 1498 when the tsunami washed away his hall — still serene
- 2
Hase-dera's 10,000 hydrangeas bloom June–July along the hillside path overlooking the Pacific
- 3
You can enter the Buddha's hollow body for ¥50 — see the rivets and ventilation windows inside
Local Tips
The Great Buddha interior (¥20 extra) is surprisingly spacious — worth entering. Hase-dera's hillside garden and the view of Kamakura bay from the garden path are underrated. Avoid summer weekends when crowds are extreme. The beach at Yuigahama (10 min walk from Hase Station) is a good reward after the temples.
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