Kōtoku-in

Kōtoku-in is a Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Japan, best known for housing the large outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, the Kamakura Daibutsu. The temple and statue are important cultural and historic attractions in the Kamakura area.

The principal sight is the seated bronze Buddha, which dates to the mid-13th century and has been exposed in the open air since the wooden hall that once covered it was destroyed. Short walks through the temple grounds and viewing areas allow close observation of the statue’s scale and craftsmanship.

The statue was cast in 1252 during the Kamakura period and the temple has since functioned as a place of worship and cultural interest. The site is managed as an active temple with visitor facilities and interpretive information.

Kōtoku-in sits in Kamakura, within easy reach of Tokyo by rail, and is one of the city’s most visited historic sites.

• Date and setting: The bronze statue was cast in 1252 and has stood outdoors since the temple hall that once sheltered it was lost to weather and disaster several times in later centuries.

What to See #

• Great Buddha (Daibutsu): The large outdoor bronze Buddha statue that dates from the mid-13th century and is set on the temple grounds where the original hall was destroyed by storm and tsunami damage over the centuries.