Kamakura Great Buddha (Kotoku-in): where to eat, stay, and what to see

Today's pick: one place to eat, one to stay, one to see in Kamakura Great Buddha (Kotoku-in).

Kamakura Sukiyaki & Shabu-shabu Restaurant Sasho

Location: Kamakura Station (West Exit), JR Yokosuka Line - 8 min walk

Hours: 11:00-22:00

Closed Thu

Kamakura wagyu sukiyaki and shabu-shabu restaurant, an 8-minute walk from Kamakura Station.

Good points:

- Specialises in wagyu sukiyaki and shabu-shabu with multiple beef options.

- Located at 1-11-1 Ogigayatsu, about 8 minutes' walk from Kamakura Station West Exit.

- Open 11:00–22:00, closed every Thursday.

- Lunch courses from ¥5,500 and dinner courses from ¥8,800, tax included.

- Set in a traditional house with a Japanese garden atmosphere.

For visitors: Book ahead and note the Thursday closure; a service charge of 5% at lunch or 10% at dinner applies on top of course prices.

Location: Hase Station, Enoden Line - 12 min walk

Address: 248-0016 , japan, and can be reached at +81 467-22-0703.

A modern hotel in Kamakura, conveniently close to the Great Buddha and Hase-dera Temple.

Good points:

- Located at 33-6 Sakanoshita, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

- Within easy walking distance of Kotoku-in (Great Buddha of Kamakura).

- Close to Hase Station, served by the scenic Enoden Line.

- Hase-dera Temple is also reachable on foot from the hotel.

For visitors: Use the Enoden Line to Hase Station as your main transit hub for exploring the Great Buddha and nearby temples.

Location: Hase Station, Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden Line) - 7 min walk

Admission: ¥300

Kamakura's iconic open-air bronze Great Buddha, a National Treasure dating from 1252, sits peacefully at Kotoku-in temple.

Good points:

- The bronze Amida Buddha statue stands 13.35 metres tall on its base.

- Completed in 1252 during the Kamakura period, it is a designated National Treasure.

- The temple belongs to the Jodo-shu Buddhist sect and sits in Hase, Kamakura.

- Visitors can enter the interior of the Great Buddha statue itself.

- Hase Station on the Enoden Line is just a short walk from the temple.

For visitors: Arrive early in the morning for smaller crowds, and note that opening hours extend until 17:30 from April through September.