Kamakura Great Buddha: Tickets, Hours and Access
Contents
The Kamakura Great Buddha is a bronze seated Amida Buddha at Kotoku-in temple in Hase, Kamakura. Grounds admission is ¥300 for junior-high age and older, ¥150 for elementary-school children, and free for preschool children; entering the statue’s interior costs an additional ¥50. The grounds and the interior have separate last-entry times, so check both if you want to see inside. Kotoku-in’s visitor information and FAQ were checked on 4 November 2026.
At a glance
- Address: 4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura
- Nearest station: Hase Station on the Enoden, about seven minutes on foot from Kotoku-in
- Grounds admission: ¥300 for junior-high age and older; ¥150 for elementary-school children; preschool children free
- Statue interior: ¥50 extra; open 08:00–16:30 year-round, with last entry at 16:20
- Grounds hours: 08:00–17:30 from April through September; 08:00–17:00 from October through March
- Reservations: Not required for general or group visits
- Parking: Kotoku-in has no parking for cars
The times and prices above are the information published by the temple and checked on 4 November 2026. Grounds entry ends 15 minutes before closing, while interior entry ends 10 minutes before the interior closes; these deadlines are different. If you plan to visit both, use the earlier interior deadline when deciding when to arrive.
Contents
- Tickets, hours and reservations
- Train, bus and walking access
- Inside the statue
- History and size
- Accessibility and visitor rules
- Goshuin and the shop
- Frequently asked questions
- Visitor videos
Tickets, hours and reservations
Kotoku-in charges separately for admission to its grounds and for entry into the Great Buddha. Grounds admission is ¥300 for visitors of junior-high age and older, ¥150 for elementary-school children, and free for preschool children; the statue interior costs an additional ¥50. An example total for a junior-high-age-or-older visitor who visits both is ¥350, before transport or any other purchase. These are the temple’s published prices checked on 4 November 2026, so consult its visitor information for the information applying to your visit date.
| Visit item | Published price or hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Grounds, April–September | ¥300 for junior-high age and older; ¥150 for elementary-school children; preschool children free; 08:00–17:30 | 15 minutes before grounds closing |
| Grounds, October–March | ¥300 for junior-high age and older; ¥150 for elementary-school children; preschool children free; 08:00–17:00 | 15 minutes before grounds closing |
| Great Buddha interior, year-round | ¥50 extra; 08:00–16:30 | 16:20 |
The grounds’ last-entry cutoff is 15 minutes before their seasonal closing time. The statue interior closes at 16:30 throughout the year, and the final entry is 16:20, even during the months when the grounds remain open later. If entering the statue matters to you, plan around 16:20 rather than treating the grounds’ closing time as your deadline.
Neither general visitors nor groups need to make an advance reservation, according to the temple’s FAQ. Kotoku-in does not list a group discount, so do not assume that a larger party will pay a reduced rate. The temple also says re-entry is generally not permitted; if you leave the grounds, you should not expect to return on the same admission. Read Kotoku-in’s reservation and re-entry information before your visit if your plans depend on either point.
There is a separate exemption process for eligible visitors with disability certificates. Kotoku-in’s application information says that an individual who presents the original eligible certificate can receive admission exemption for themselves and up to one companion. Schools and facilities applying for an exemption must ensure the application arrives at least one week before the planned visit, and submitting the form alone does not mean the temple has approved it. The details and the appropriate contact are in the temple’s application and exemption information.
Train, bus and walking access
The temple is about seven minutes on foot from Hase Station on the Enoden. From Kamakura Station, take an Enoden train toward Fujisawa to Hase; from Fujisawa Station, take an Enoden train toward Kamakura. Kotoku-in gives these directions on its access page, but you should check the railway’s current timetable and fare for your date rather than relying on an old schedule.
| Starting point | Published route to Kotoku-in | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Kamakura Station | Enoden toward Fujisawa to Hase Station, then walk about seven minutes | Current railway timetable and fare |
| Fujisawa Station | Enoden toward Kamakura to Hase Station, then walk about seven minutes | Current railway timetable and fare |
| Kamakura Station east exit | Enoden bus from stop 1, or Keikyu bus from stop 6, to Daibutsu-mae | Current bus service and fare |
| Hase-dera | About five minutes on foot to Kotoku-in | Each temple’s separate hours and admission |
To use the train, first check the service for your travel date and choose a train that stops at Hase. From Kamakura, look for the Fujisawa direction; from Fujisawa, look for the Kamakura direction. Once at Hase Station, follow a map for the approximately seven-minute walk to Kotoku-in, allowing extra time if your party walks more slowly.
A bus is another option from Kamakura Station’s east exit. Kotoku-in lists Enoden buses from stop 1 and Keikyu buses from stop 6, both to Daibutsu-mae; check the relevant operator’s current service and fare before setting out. The temple’s information identifies the stops and destination but does not give a current fare or timetable, so use the operator’s information for those details.
Kotoku-in’s address is 4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura. Open a map search for the temple address, and compare the result with the address on the temple’s official page before following directions. The temple has no parking for cars, and it says its former provision of accessible parking has ended. If you are considering travelling by car because of a particular access need, contact the temple before departure rather than assuming a parking space is available.
Kotoku-in lists Hase-dera as about five minutes away on foot, which can make the two temples practical to consider together. Check both sites’ current visitor information and allow for your own walking pace before deciding on an order.
Inside the statue
The Great Buddha’s interior is a separate, paid part of a Kotoku-in visit. The listed charge is ¥50, in addition to grounds admission, and the interior is open from 08:00 to 16:30 throughout the year. Last entry is 16:20, so arriving shortly before that time may leave little margin for the admission process; the published schedule does not specify how long a queue may take on a particular day. Check the temple’s visitor information before travelling.
Photography inside the Buddha is prohibited. This rule is specific to the interior, and the temple’s FAQ also prohibits drones from being flown or operated in the grounds. If photography is part of your visit, follow the signs and staff instructions on site rather than assuming that a rule applying to one area applies differently elsewhere. The Kotoku-in FAQ sets out these restrictions.
The grounds and the interior should be treated as separate access questions, especially for visitors who need step-free routes. Kotoku-in notes that the grounds include slopes as well as steps. Contact the temple before travelling if interior access is essential to your plans; its general enquiry number is 0467-22-0703. The temple’s FAQ and access details are available through its official information page.
History and size
The present bronze seated Amida Buddha is said to have begun construction around 1252. Kotoku-in’s history information says the statue was originally covered in gold leaf. The date is approximate: the temple’s account says construction began around that time, so it should not be read as a precise completion date. See Kotoku-in’s history information for the temple’s account.
The Kamakura tourism association lists the statue’s height as 11.31 metres and its height including the pedestal as 13.35 metres. It gives the weight as approximately 121 tonnes and describes the Great Buddha as the only National Treasure among Kamakura’s Buddhist statues. The two height figures use different measurements: 11.31 metres is the statue, while 13.35 metres includes the pedestal. These measurements and the National Treasure description are listed by Kamakura tourism.
For a visit focused on the Great Buddha, you can go from Hase Station to Kotoku-in and concentrate on the grounds, or include the separate interior visit if you arrive in time for its 16:20 last entry. If you want to combine the visit with Hase-dera, the temple lists the walk between them as about five minutes, but you will need to check Hase-dera’s own hours and admission. The length of the outing depends on your walking pace, how long you choose to stay, and whether you visit the interior; the published information does not give a fixed visit duration.
Accessibility and visitor rules
Strollers are allowed into the grounds, but Kotoku-in notes that the site has both slopes and steps and recommends an accompanying helper where needed. Wheelchairs are available to borrow from 09:00 to 16:00, with return by 16:30; the number is limited, and the loan wheelchairs are for use within the grounds. The temple does not state that these arrangements provide access to the statue’s interior. If a particular route or feature is essential, contact Kotoku-in before visiting and describe the access you need. Its FAQ gives the grounds information.
The temple’s individual exemption arrangement requires presentation of the original eligible disability certificate and covers the holder plus up to one companion. For a school or facility visit, the application must arrive at least one week before the planned visit, and the temple must approve it; sending an application by itself is not approval. For application questions, call the temple office at 0467-22-0815 between 08:00 and 17:00. This is a different number from the general enquiry number, 0467-22-0703; see the official exemption application information.
Pets may enter only when their whole body is inside a carrier or bag. Other than assistance dogs, pets may not walk in the grounds, so do not plan on letting a pet out to walk beside you. If you are unsure whether a particular carrier or assistance-animal arrangement meets the temple’s conditions, ask Kotoku-in before your visit.
Smoking is prohibited throughout the grounds. Food and drinks are not allowed, except drinks for hydration in sealed containers; paper and plastic cup drinks are excluded from that exception. There are no rubbish bins in the grounds, so take your rubbish away with you. These rules are set out in the temple’s FAQ.
Photography inside the Great Buddha is prohibited, and the temple also prohibits drone flight and operation. Follow posted instructions and staff directions during your visit, particularly if you are unsure whether an activity is permitted in a specific area. Since re-entry is generally not allowed, check that you have what you need before leaving the grounds.
Goshuin and the shop
Kotoku-in lists handwritten goshuin entries in a goshuin book from 09:00 to 15:00 at ¥500 each. Printed goshuin sheets are listed from 08:00 to 16:30 at ¥300 each, so the handwritten service and the printed option have different hours and prices. These are separate purchases from grounds and interior admission; if you want either, plan around its own listed time rather than the temple’s grounds closing time. The service details are in the Kotoku-in FAQ.
The shop is listed as open year-round from 08:30 to 16:45. Its listed hours are not the same as either the seasonal grounds closing time or the statue interior’s closing time, so check the relevant deadline for each part of your visit. The temple’s visitor information provides the shop schedule alongside other visit details.
Frequently asked questions
The questions below cover the practical points most likely to affect a visit: admission, deadlines, reservations, photography, and access. The answers use Kotoku-in’s published information checked on 4 November 2026, rather than assuming that a railway fare, queue, or individual access arrangement will be the same on every visit. For changes or circumstances that need a specific answer, use the linked temple pages or contact Kotoku-in directly.
Do I need to reserve a visit?
No advance reservation is required for general visitors or groups, according to Kotoku-in’s FAQ. The temple does not list a group discount, so group size does not mean that a lower admission price is available. Check the current FAQ before your visit if your plans depend on group arrangements.
How much does it cost to enter the Great Buddha?
Grounds admission is ¥300 for junior-high age and older, ¥150 for elementary-school children, and free for preschool children. Entry into the statue’s interior costs an additional ¥50, making the combined listed total ¥350 for a visitor in the junior-high-age-and-older category. The figures were checked on 4 November 2026; confirm them on the temple’s visitor information page for your visit date.
When is the last entry to the statue’s interior?
The interior is listed as open from 08:00 to 16:30 throughout the year, with last entry at 16:20. This cutoff is earlier than the grounds’ seasonal closing time, which is 17:30 from April through September and 17:00 from October through March. If you want to enter the statue, plan around 16:20 rather than the grounds’ later closing time.
Can I take photographs inside the Buddha?
No. Kotoku-in’s FAQ prohibits photography inside the Great Buddha. The same FAQ prohibits drone flight and operation in the grounds, so do not bring a drone into use during your visit.
How do I get to Kotoku-in from Hase Station?
Kotoku-in is about seven minutes on foot from Hase Station on the Enoden. From Kamakura Station, take the Enoden toward Fujisawa; from Fujisawa Station, take it toward Kamakura, then walk from Hase. Check the temple’s access information and the railway’s current timetable for your date.
Can I leave the grounds and come back in?
Re-entry is generally not permitted, according to Kotoku-in’s FAQ. Make sure you have what you need before leaving the grounds, because the temple does not promise that you can return on the same admission. If your circumstances require a different arrangement, ask temple staff.
Is the Great Buddha accessible by wheelchair?
Kotoku-in says there are slopes and steps in the grounds and offers a limited number of wheelchairs for use within the grounds from 09:00 to 16:00, with return by 16:30. Contact the temple about the specific route or feature you need before travelling; the general enquiry number is 0467-22-0703.
Is there parking at Kotoku-in?
The temple says it has no parking for cars, and its former provision of accessible parking has ended. Do not assume that you can park at the temple, including when arranging an access-focused trip. Check the official access information and plan your transport accordingly.
Visitor videos
These visitor videos offer additional viewpoints on Kamakura and the Great Buddha, but they are not substitutes for Kotoku-in’s official information about prices, hours, access, and rules. Use the temple’s current pages for practical arrangements, especially if you are planning around the interior’s last-entry time or need to confirm accessibility. The videos include Here’s Good’s Kamakura travel video, Dreams Not Things’ Great Buddha video, and Ninjapan Solo Travel’s Kamakura walking video.
Other creator videos mentioned in this guide include JA | Japan Annotations’ Great Buddha introduction, Deep Japan By the Last Samurai’s Kamakura temple video, and Footsteps in Japan’s Kamakura travel video. Wonder Ever After’s Kamakura day-trip video also includes the Great Buddha among a wider set of stops. Treat these as supplementary visitor perspectives, and verify visit details with the temple.
