The Great Buddha of Kamakura in Kotoku-in

Kōtoku-in Temple [鎌倉大仏殿高徳院]

Location: in Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan

There is "The Great Buddha of Kamakura".
The height of Daibutsu, including platform is 13.35m (43.8ft).
The weight of Great Buddha is 121 tonnes(267,000 pounds).
It is one of the National Treasures of Japan.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

  [Japanese: 鎌倉大仏; Kamakura-Daibutsu] is 

an Amida Buddha/ Amitābha Buddha 

[Japanese: 阿弥陀如来; amidanyorai].
It is a National Tresures of Japan.

 

As soon as we entered the entrance of Kotoku-in [Japanese: 高徳院],

we could see the big sitting Daibutsu.

We could see the rear side of the Great Buddha.
On the back of Great Buddha, there were open windows.
 

We can enter inside the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

 

Episode of the Great Buddha of Kamakura in Kotoku-in temple

Tomo&Chouchou went to Kōtoku-in (高徳院) located in Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa pref. to see big "Great Buddha" (大仏, Daibutsu).
As soon as we entered the entrance of Kotoku-in temple, we could see the big sitting Daibutsu. The Buddhas that Tomo&Chouchou had ever seen were always in the building. However the Great Buddha of Kamakura were outside building. So we were very surprised to see outdoor Boddha.

We could look around 360 degree view of the Great Buddha. It was also the first time for us to see close from various angles. When we saw the rear side of the Great Buddha, there were open windows on the back of Great Buddha. It was a big surprise! We could also enter inside the Great Buddha of Kamakura. We could understsnd how Daibutsu was made. We were more impressed after knowing how the ancient people made the Great Buddha.

Tomo&Chouchou were so happy to approach the Great Buddha. We don't know why, but we felt the Great Buddha of Kamakura was friendly. Maybe because we could approach a lot. Normally, it's not so easy to approach to the Great Buddha.
It's rare to enter inside too. We could have a special experience with the Great Buddha of Kamakura.



information

Address 4-2-28, Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
[ 〒248－0016 神奈川県鎌倉市長谷４丁目２番28号 ]

Admission fee:  Adult  200 yen, child (age 6-12) 150yen

Opening hours: 8:00-17:30 (Apr.-Sep.), 8:00-17:00(Oct.-Mar.)
Entering the interior of the Great Buddha statue [大仏体内拝観時間]: 8:00-16:30
 

Access
by Train: 7 min. walk from Hase station [長谷駅] of Enoshima Electric Railway [江ノ島電鉄/ 江ノ電]

by Bus: 10 min by bus from Kamakura station [鎌倉駅] of Enoshima-dentetsu bus [江ノ島電鉄バス] or Keikyu bus [京急急行バス] . Get off at "Daibutsu-mae [大仏前]" stop. Kotoku-in is just in front of bus stop.

Bus stop of Kamakura st. of Enoshima-dentetsu Bus: bus terminal no.1 in the East Exit of Kamakura station
Bus stop of Kamakura st. of Keikyu Bus: bus terminal no.6 in the East Exit of Kamakura station




Relating articles

* Hase-dera temple in Kamakura

* Hydrangeas in Hase temple in Kamakura

Hydrangeas in Hase temple in Kamakura, Japan

Hase Temple [Japanese: Hase-dera; 長谷寺, 
                      formally as Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera, 海光山慈照院長谷寺]
Location: in Kamakura city in Kanagawa prefecture [Japanese: 神奈川県鎌倉市]
Hydrangeas season: in June

The view from Hydrangea Path 

(Japanese: 紫陽花の道; Ajisai-no-michi).

Hydrangea path is to go up the hill little by little, 

and then go down by stairs.

There are several colors of hydrangeas

such as pink, white and purple.

Hydrangea Londo

Hydrangea Benigaku

Hydrangea Kurohime

we can see Sagami bay (Japanese: 相模湾) with hydrangeas

from the hill of Hase-dera. 

 

 

bamboo grovein Hase Temple

There are "jinrikisha"rickshaws around Hase-dera.

Old style of shop

Japanese souvenir shop

Tomo & Chouchou's advice for Hase-dera

There are many souvenir shops and good ice-cream shops near Hase-dera.
You had better take time to enjoy foods and shopping around Hase temple.


information
Hydrangea in Hase Temple

Hours of Operation
8:00am - 5:00pm (Mar. thru Sept.)
8:00am - 4:30pm (Oct. thru Feb.)
Open every day

Admission Fees
\300 (Adults, 12 and over)　\100 (Children)

Parking Fees
8:00am - 5:00pm (Mar. thru Sept.)
8:00am - 4:30pm (Oct. thru Feb.)
\300 per 30 min. (ordinary vehicle, standard size car)

Address: 3-11-2 Hase Kamakura-city, Kanagawa (Japanese: 神奈川県鎌倉市長谷)

Access
*Train:  5 min. on foot from Hase (長谷) station of Enoshima Electric Railway /Enoden (江ノ島電鉄/江ノ電)
*Bus:  3 min. on foot from "Hasekannon" (長谷観音) bus stop of Enoden bus (江ノ電バス) or Keihin Kyuko Bus (京浜急行バス).
  We can take Enoden bus or Keihin Kyuko Bus from Kamakura (鎌倉) or Ofuna (大船) train station.


Relating articles

* Hase-dera temple in Kamakura

* The Great Buddha of Kamakura in Kotoku-in

Hakone in Kanagawa, Japan

<<Owakudani>> 

aerial lift "Hakone Ropeway" [Japanese: 箱根ロープウェー]

to go to Owakudani [Japanese: 大涌谷]

 

Mt.Fuji* from the window of Hakone Ropeway

*Mt.Fuji is the highest mountains in Japan and world heritage.

volcanic valley "Owakudani"[Japanese: Ōwakudani; 大涌谷].

the specialty of Owakudani "Kuro Tamago"(=black egg) 

 

Eggs become black naturally after boiling in the hot springs for one hour.

"Eating black egg" is said "to increase longevity".
"Eating one black egg" is said "to add seven years to your life".
 

They sell warm Kuro-Tamago [Japanese: 黒たまご] 

in the special paper bag.

  

 

↓

<< Lake Ashinoko>>

Hakone sightseeing cruise [Japanese: 箱根海賊船] 

in Lake Ashi [Japanese: Ashinoko; 芦ノ湖]

 
The boat goes between Hakonemachi [Japanese: 箱根町] 

and Togendai [Japanese: 桃源台].
 We can choose single cruise or return cruise.
 

 

Episode of Hakone [箱根]

Onsen (=Hot springs) is the best in winter! So, Tomo&Chouchou went to Hakone for enjoying hot springs.
Hakone onsen [Japanese: 箱根温泉] is located in Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo district in Kanagawa prefecture [神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町]. Tomo&Chouchou stayed in Hakone Yumoto onsen [Japanese: 箱根湯本温泉] where was the entrance of Hakone hot spring resorts. Hakone Yumoto Onsen was located close to the Hakone Yumoto station [Japanese: 箱根湯本駅] of Hakone Tozan Tetsudō (=the Hakone Tozan Railway)[Japanese: 箱根登山鉄道]. So it was very convenient.
Hakone Yumoto hot spring is effective for neuralgia, arthralgia and poor blood circulation. The hot spring water was transparant. The skin became smooth.
 mous spot to see Mt.Fuji.

We also enjoyed sightseeing in Hakone. Owakudani [大涌谷] is a famous place in Hakone. So we decided to go there. We took Hakone Tozan Railway at Hakone Yumoto station to Gora station [Japanese: 強羅駅]. Then we took aerial lift "Hakone Ropeway [箱根ロープウェイ]” to Owakudani. While going up by the ropeway, we could enjoy the view from the window. When we looked down Owakudani from the lift, we could see the wideness of Owakudani. We could also see volcanic smoke. We could understood it was still active. We could luckily see Mt.Fuji from the ropeway.
As soon as we arrived at Owakudani, we smelled sulfur strongly. We could feel the power of the nature a lot. To get the energy from the nature, we bought the famous specialty of Ōwakudani "Kuro Tamago" (=black egg) there. The staff boils eggs in the hot springs. We could buy warm black eggs there. They gave the salt for Kuro Tamago. We tasted Kuro-Tamago at Owakdani. It was good! We felt our life was extended. :-)
We went down from Owakudani to Togendai station by Hakone Ropeway.
Hakone sightseeing cruise in Ashinoko (=Lake Ashi) is also popular sightseeing spot in Hakone. So we went to Togendai port [Togendai-ko; 桃源台港]to take a ship. We bought the single cruise tickets. We enjoyed Lake Ashinoko. It was the peaceful cruise. The ship was very beautiful. It was enjoyable and relaxing cruise. We got off the ship at Hakonemachi port [Hakonemachi-ko; 箱根町港].

Then we visited Hakone Sekisho [Japanese: 箱根関所]. We experienced Old Japan there. 

Hakone was full of things to see. We really enjoyed Hakone!

 

Travel information
Access to Hakone,
by Romancecar (Odakyu Electric Railway) [小田急電鉄 ロマンスカー]
by Hakone Tozan bus or Izu Hakone bus [箱根登山バス or 伊豆箱根バス]
by Hakone Tozan Railway [箱根登山鉄道]

Reference
Hakone Tozen Railway [箱根登山鉄道]
Odawara station - Hakone yumoto station [箱根湯本駅] : one-way fare 300yen
Odawara station [小田原駅] - Gōra station [強羅駅] : one- way fare 650yen
Hakone yumoto station - Gōra station: one-way fare 390yen  (2013.March)

Hakone Tozan Cable Car [箱根登山ケーブルカー]
Gōra station - Sounzan station [早雲山駅] : fare (one-way) 410yen  (2013.March)

Hakone Ropeway [箱根登山ロープウェイ]
Sounzan station - Owakudani station [大涌谷駅] (about 8min.) :
one-way fare 820yen,  round trip fare 1470yen

Sounzan station - Togendai station [桃源台駅] (about 25min.):
one-way fare 1330yen round trip fare 2340yen

Owakudani station - Togendai station (about 16min.)
one-way fare 1020yen round trip fare 1830yen  (2013.March)

cf1) To go to Owakudani by car is very crowded. Ropeway is recommended.
cf2) Togendai is close to Lake Ashi (Ashinoko).
Togendai is accessible to Hakone sightseeing cruise (=Hakone Kaizoku sen).

Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (=Hakone Kaizoku Sen; 箱根海賊船)
Togendai port [桃源台港]- Moto-Hakone port [元箱根港] (30min.):
one way fare 970yen round trip 1780yen
Togendai port - Hakone-machi port [箱根町港] (30min.):
one way fare 970yen round trip 1780yen..... (2013.March)
time table: every 40 or 50 min.

Hakone Freepass
2 days pass (from Shinjyuku station): adult 5000yen child 1500yen
3 days pass (from Shinjyuku station): adult 5500yen child 1750yen..(2013.March)

Hakone Freepass is very convenient and profitable to go around Hakone.

Round trip of Odakyu Line + free ride of 8 transportation + discount
With Hakone Freepass, you can freely get on and off as often as you want as follows;
* Hakone Tozan Railway  * Hakone Tozan Cable Car  
* Hakone Ropeway  * Hakone Sightseeing Cruise etc...
You will also get discounts with Hakone Freepass at over 50 facilities
such as hot springs, restaurants, shopping, museums and so on.

Purchase Hakone Freepass at each station of Odakyu Line,
some station of hakone tozan railway or big travel agencies such as
JTB, KNT, Nippon Travel Agency.

＊In 2019, Mt.Hakone was very active. In 2020, Hakone was damaged by typhoon. In 2020, Owakudani area was damaged by heavy rain. So please check the latest condition before going to Hakone.