{Japan: Explore} What’s Inside the Great Buddha of Kamakura?
Visiting Kamakura is one of the most popular day trips to take from Tokyo. Once there, many people make a beeline to see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kotokuin Temple. I, along with my brother and M, was one of those lucky people on our 2008 trip to Japan. Except, I wasn’t so much interested in the outside of the Buddha (there are a gazillion pictures of him on the Internet, after all). I wanted to see the inside! Yes, for only 20 Yen (20 cents US), you can enter the belly of the Buddha! There really wasn’t anything to do in there other than read how he was constructed. But being inside of him gave the visit a different perspective and I appreciated that. Now, if there was a huge chocolate bunny I could go inside of…..
Photo credit: Pasha_C / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Good heavens, I never realised! It must have been quite strange!
Yes, it was a bit strange to be inside of the Great Buddha. The oddest thing is how unremarkable it is on the inside compared to how spectacular it is on the outside. Thanks for commenting!
I have been there recently on April. I love it there.. beautiful.
Yes, I loved it there too. The last time I was in such a rush that all we saw was the Great Buddha. On up my upcoming trip in October I hope to see Hasedera Temple and Hachimangu Shrine. Thanks so much for commenting!
Is it me, or is that a watermelon in the first picture? An offering to the Buddha perhaps?
Yes, it’s a watermelon! That picture is actually a stock photo but I did notice it. It’s actually quite an offering to the Buddha because watermelon are very expensive in Japan! Thanks so much for commenting!
I went here a couple of months back! But the belly entrance was closed 😦
Really? That’s too bad, I wonder why. There really was absolutely nothing to do in there but I would’ve been disappointed if it was closed. Hopefully you’ll get your chance again sometime.
I love Kamakura too!
Yes, Kamakura is so beautiful! I didn’t get a chance to see much more than the Buddha on my last trip so I’ll have to go back again and check out the temples in the area. Thanks so much for commenting!
Third time in Kamakura and I still have not seen the Buddha! Aside from his hand when we drove pass through Hase…
I hope you will get to see it on your next visit. Before you know it, it will be summer time and you will be back in Kamakura. I really enjoyed my visit to the Big Buddha. There was hardly anyone else there that day so the area was very peaceful. I can’t wait to go back to Kamakura and see all the temples and the beach and the caves.