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The Great Buddha (or Daibutsu) of Kamakura is one of Japan’s most fascinating historical landmarks.
The enormous bronze statue is a representation of Amida Buddha, located on the grounds of the Kotokuin temple in Kamakura City. The monument dates all the way back to 1252, originally gold-plated and housed inside. The statue has stood in the open air since the temple building was destroyed in the tsunami of September 20th 1492, and only traces of gold-leaf remain around the ears.
The Daibutsu of Kamakura is the second largest monumental Buddha in Japan, weighing in at 93 tons and reaching a height of 13.35 meters. A unique aspect of the statue is that, since it is hollow, visitors can actually go inside the sacred monument. For a small donation of 20 yen, visitors are permitted enter the Buddah and see how it was cast from the inside. This unique experience ensures that a visit to the Daibutsu of Kamakura will be a memorable one.
