Great Buddha

statue, Kamakura, Japan

Also known as: Daibutsu

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The Great Buddha of Kamakura, known as Daibutsu, is a colossal bronze statue located in Kamakura, Japan. It stands as a national treasure and is one of Japan's most iconic landmarks.1

Originally, the statue was housed in a temple, but it was destroyed by a tsunami. The current bronze statue was completed in 1252 and has since stood in the open air. It is approximately 11.4 meters (37.4 feet) tall and weighs about 121 tons. The statue depicts Amitabha Buddha and is a significant example of Japanese sculpture from the Kamakura period. The Kamakura period (1192–1333) was a time of significant cultural and religious development in Japan, influenced by the rise of the warrior class and the spread of Buddhism, particularly Zen and Pure Land Buddhism.213

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Kamakura
Historic landmarks include the bronze Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, a national treasure; the Kenchō and Engaku temples; and the statue of Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), the bodhisattva of compassion. The city houses the Kamakura Museum and the Kamakura Prefectural Museum of Modern Art. The southern beaches attract thousands of tourists. A lacquerware…
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Historic landmarks include the bronze Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, a national treasure; the Kenchō and Engaku temples; and the statue of Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), the bodhisattva of compassion. The city houses the Kamakura Museum and the Kamakura Prefectural Museum of Modern Art. The southern beaches attract thousands of tourists. A lacquerware…
Read More