Kotoku-in Temple

Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura is home to the Great Buddha, a bronze Amitabha Buddha cast around 1252, standing 13.35 meters tall and weighing approximately 93 tons. Originally inside a large hall, the statue has sat outdoors since the fifteenth century after tsunamis swept away the surrounding buildings, giving it a presence that changes with the sky and seasons. For an extra 50 yen, visitors can step inside the hollow figure and see the casting seams left by the craftsmen who built it. A pair of giant straw sandals, each weighing 45 kilograms, are displayed at the entrance, offered so the Buddha can walk Japan to help its people.