Kotoku-in Temple (Kōtoku-in), home of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in April through September, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in October through March.
For the standard visit, final entry is 15 minutes before closing. If you plan to go inside the Great Buddha statue, interior viewing runs 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last entry 10 minutes before closing.
Closing time
Kotoku-in Temple (the Great Buddha of Kamakura) closes at 5:30 pm from April to September, and at 5:00 pm from October to March. Entry is allowed until 15 minutes before closing, so the practical last entry is 5:15 pm (Apr–Sep) or 4:45 pm (Oct–Mar).
If you plan to go inside the Great Buddha statue, that interior viewing closes at 4:30 pm, with last entry 10 minutes before closing.
Closed days
Kotoku-in Temple (the Great Buddha of Kamakura) has no regular closed days. It’s basically open year-round, so you don’t have to worry about a weekly holiday like “closed every Tuesday.”
That said, special conditions can still affect a visit. The temple posts separate notices for periods like New Year, and entry rules are tied to the day’s closing time, so it’s smart to check the official site if you’re visiting on a very specific date or late in the afternoon.
Admissiondays
If you’re searching Kotoku-in Temple admission days, the simple answer is that the Great Buddha of Kamakura is essentially open every day year-round, so there are no regular weekly closed days to avoid.
What does change is the seasonal schedule. Kotoku-in posts different opening and closing hours for April–September and October–March, and it also sets a clear cutoff for entry, with visitors allowed in until 15 minutes before closing.
If you’re visiting around major dates like New Year, Kotoku-in may run special hours rather than closing, so it’s worth checking the latest notice page right before you go.
Kotokuin Temple packing
Kotoku-in Temple packing is easy as long as you plan for one simple reality: you’re visiting an outdoor temple courtyard built around the Great Buddha of Kamakura, and Kotoku-in is strict about food and casual “walk-and-eat” behavior. The temple’s official notice says eating and drinking on the grounds is prohibited, and you can’t bring in takeaway drinks in plastic or paper cups. If you want hydration, bring a sealed bottle or flask, and keep it closed until you actually need it.
Because there are no trash bins inside the grounds, the most useful “packing trick” is to carry a tiny bag for your own rubbish, especially if you’ll buy a drink or snack outside after you leave.
Also, smoking isn’t allowed anywhere on the temple grounds, so don’t pack anything you’d need for that.
Money-wise, it’s smart to carry a little cash. Kotoku-in’s official site lists the admission fee and the small extra fee to enter the interior of the Great Buddha statue. Even if you don’t plan to go inside, having coins or small bills keeps your entry smooth when it’s busy.
Finally, pack for photos the “temple way.” Personal photos are fine, but Kotoku-in asks visitors not to fly drones on the grounds, and it also asks you not to use selfie sticks inside the statue. Filming the interior of the Great Buddha is prohibited, so if you do go inside, expect it to be more of a quiet, quick look than a content-creation moment.
Kotokuin entrance fee
Kotoku-in Temple (the Great Buddha of Kamakura) entrance fee is ¥300 for general admission, and ¥150 for children ages 6–12. Children under six are free.
If you want to go inside the Great Buddha statue, it’s an additional ¥50 per person on top of the main ticket.
Goshuin
If you’re searching for a Kotoku-in goshuin, you can receive one at Kōtoku-in (Kamakura Daibutsu), and there are two practical choices depending on your style of travel. The temple offers a printed goshuin sheet that you paste into your book later, and it’s available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ¥300. If you want the goshuin written directly into your goshuincho, the book-entry service is handled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and costs ¥500 per stamp.
The important detail is timing. Even though Kotoku-in itself stays open later in the afternoon, the goshuin desk closes earlier, especially for book entry, so it’s smart to do goshuin first and then slow down for photos of the Great Buddha. On busy days, the temple also notes that book entry can come with a wait, which is another reason to go earlier if goshuin is a must for your visit.
If you don’t have a goshuincho yet, Kotoku-in sells original items including goshuincho at the temple shop, and the official online shop lists an original Great Buddha foil-stamped goshuincho at ¥2,000.
Kotokuin Temple in buddha
Kotoku-in Temple in Kamakura is famous for one thing above all: the Great Buddha, often called the Kamakura Daibutsu. It’s a colossal bronze statue of Amida Buddha (Amitabha), the main image of the temple, and what makes it feel so special is that it sits outdoors in open air, facing visitors with a calm, steady presence.
The statue dates back to the Kamakura period. Historical records commonly point to casting beginning in 1252, and the Buddha was originally housed in a large hall. Over time, natural disasters repeatedly damaged or destroyed the surrounding buildings, and after a major tsunami in 1498, the Great Buddha has remained outside—one reason the scene feels so different from other big Buddha statues in Japan.
If you want a closer connection than photos from the front, Kotoku-in also lets visitors step inside the Buddha. The interior is hollow, and you can clearly see how the statue was made, including patterns and joins that show it was cast in many separate sections rather than as one solid piece. It’s a short visit, but it adds a surprising “behind the scenes” feeling to an icon that’s usually admired from the outside.