Great Buddha Kotokuin Temple

The Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha) within the Kotoku-in Temple is one of Japan’s National Treasures. Its construction began in 1252, so it has been able to accrue a great deal of history over its years. It has a total height of about 11.3m and a weight of about 121 tons. The ancient building in which the statue was housed was destroyed over the years through natural disasters ranging from typhoon storms to big tsunamis, leaving the Great Buddha to sit below the open sky. Remaining well-preserved, it has great value for Japan’s Buddhist art history.