Great Buddha of Kamakura

Above, the Great Buddha of Kamakura.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is looking for a day-trip from Tokyo, the Great Buddha of Kamakura (or Daibutsu) should be considered.  It is relatively easy to reach from Tokyo by train/bus.

Above, the entrance to the Great Buddha.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Great Buddha is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha that was cast in 1252.  It has a height of 13.35 meters and was originally enclosed in a temple hall.  But due to typhoons and an earthquake, the hall structures were destroyed, leaving the Great Buddha out in the open since 1495.

It is the second tallest Buddha statue in Japan.  The Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara is taller.  The Great Buddha is designated a National Treasure by the Japanese government and is currently under consideration to be named a World Heritage Site.  I visited the Great Buddha in 2004.

Above, my visit to the Great Buddha in 2004.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura has its own website.  To view it, go here.

For information on how to reach the Great Buddha of Kamakura, go here.