Kamakura Great Buddha Travel Guide

Kamakura is a very small city compared to other major Japanese cities. However, its historical significance and continuous traditions and festivities make it one of the most attractive day-trip destinations from Tokyo.

Inspired by the Nara Daibutsu housed at Todai-ji Temple, the Great Buddha of Kamakura is surprisingly big in a country where everything is tiny. For the record, it is almost 13 meters high and weighs about 120 tons! Its construction began in 1252 and it has survived two temple fires and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, among many other natural disasters.

Here, you can take a peek from the inside of the giant statue and check out the huge monk-style sandals woven specially to the foot size of the Great Buddha, before visiting the other temples and shrines of Kamakura.