Hase-dera
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Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Shrines Temples > Kamakura
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Main Hall of Hase-dera Temple by Urashimataro (CC0 1.0)
About
Sanmon gate, Hase-dera temple by Tetcu Mircea Rares (CC BY 2.5)
Hase-dera is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kamakura Japan. Hase-dera is famous for housing a massive (9.18 meter tall) eleven-headed (each head represents a different phase in the search for enlightenment.) wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The statue can be viewed in the temple's main building, the Kannon-do Hall. Next to the main hall is the Museum which requires an additional small entrance fee. The museum exhibits some more of the temple's treasures like Buddhist statues, a temple bell and a picture scroll. On the opposite side of the main hall is the Amida-do Hall with a golden statue of Amida Buddha which is almost three meters tall.
The legend behind the massive wooden statue at Hase-dera states that the statue is one of two images of Kannon carved by a monk named Tokudo in 721. The Camphor tree was so large (according to the legend), that he decided that he could carve two statues with it. The first was enshrined at the Hase-dera Temple in Nara while the other was set adrift in the sea to find the place with which it had a karmic connection. Just so happens... the statue washed ashore on Nagai Beach near Kamakura in the year 736. The statue was immediately brought to Kamakura where a temple was built to honor it.
Access
Closest Train Station: Hase(Kamakura)
3 Chome-11-2 Hase
Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016 Japan
Tel: 467-22-6300
- From Hase Station: 5 min. walk from the station.
- You can ride the "Enoden Railway" from near the Kamakura JR station. It is 3 stops.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Hase-dera.
Hours & Fees
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. from October - February (last entry 30 min. before closing)
Closed: No closing days
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Hase-dera Homepage
