Before You Visit the Great Buddha of Kamakura: Every Cost, and What's Worth It

The Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in, a 13th-century bronze statue sitting in the open air, is one of the cheapest major sights in Japan, and you can even go inside it for ¥50. There's the entry fee, the inside visit, Kamakura's other temples and the train from Tokyo. Most of them sound worth paying for. You don't need any tour to have a great visit. In this guide we walk through what each option costs, what you really get, and how to choose the right time, whether that's a quiet 9 am or a busy midday.