Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Kamakura Half-Day Walking Tour with Kotokuin Great Buddha
• Kamakura Historical Walking Tour with the Great Buddha
• Private Car Tour to See Highlights of Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama from Tokyo
• Kamakura 4-Hour Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
• A Fun Day Out Discovering Kamakura

There's no charge to visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura, but many people choose to take a tour of Kamakura that includes a stop at the Great Buddha. These tours start at around US$105 for a half-day walking tour and go up to close to US$190 for full-day tours.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura was created in the 13th century and originally was enclosed in the Daibutsu-den Hall at the Kotoku-in Temple. Although natural disasters such as tsunamis and typhoons destroyed the hall multiple times over the centuries that followed, the Buddha remained unscathed.

To get to the Great Buddha of Kamakura from Tokyo, take a train to the Kamakura Station and switch to the Enoden line of the streetcar. Some tours from Tokyo will take you to Kamakura by public transportation, while others include round-trip transfers in a private vehicle.

The best month to visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura is April, when the flowers in the area are in full bloom, and the weather is generally pleasant. October is another nice month when it’s typically not too cold out, and you have a good chance of seeing autumn colors.

Yes, there are plenty of attractions in Kamakura worth visiting beyond the Great Buddha statue. Popular spiritual attractions include the Hasedera Temple, the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and the Kencho-ji Temple. Enoshima Island, just off the coast of Kamakura, is another excellent choice, particularly if you’re fond of hiking and nature.