Thursday, 17 September 2015
Japan is famous for a country that has thousands of shrines. In addition to functioning as a place of worship, the shrines in Japan are used as tourist attractions. Many visitors from aboard traveled in Japan intentionally to visit the shrines in there. Kamakura city is located in Kanagawa Prefecture has a famous shrine for the presence of a large Buddha statue. According to historical stories, Buddha statue which has a height of 13.35 meters has been around since the year 1252. The big Buddha statue which is located in the Kotokuin shrine became a major attraction to attract tourists to visit this place. The Buddha statue in Kotokuin shrine made of bronze and has empty sections in it. Visitors are also allowed to enter the inside of the Buddha statue that is only found the indentations view of the Buddha's body from the inside. Temple Kotokuin also familiarly called by the name of Kamakura Daibutsu. A large Buddha statue in the Kotokuin shrine makes this temple include in the list of places worth visiting while in Kamakura.
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| The Large Buddha Statui in the Kotokuin shrine |
The Buddha statue at the Kotokuin shrine is very famous in Japan and numerous visitors are usually drop in this shrine. The big Buddha statue which is situated in the shrine of Kotokuin actually is the second highest statue in Japan. The Buddha statue in the Kotokuin shrine seen sitting cross-legged with hands like a meditating position. At least 100 workers involved in the manufacture of the Buddha statue in the Kotokuin shrine for about five years. The Buddha statue was originally located inside the shrine, but the shrine has been damaged condition so the Buddha statue is located in the outside. The Buddha statue had been damaged in several times because of natural disasters including a massive tsunami that occurred in the 15th century. Actually, there is no much expectation from the shrine of Kotokuin except the big Buddha statue but it has pretty cool atmosphere. There are also many shops which sell unique souvenirs, post cards, and prayer cards around the shrine of Kotokuin.
Access to the Kotokuin shrine is easy because it is located quite close to the Kamakura station. Visitors who enter the territory of the temple required to pay at cost of JPY 200 and JPY 20 to enter the blank spaces in the Buddha statue. There is no other interesting things that can be found in Kotokuin shrine besides the large Buddha statue thus visitors do not require much time to roam in the temple Kotokuin. Not far from the Kotokuin shrine there is also Buddhist shrine which quite well known, namely Hasadera shrine. In one day is very enable to visit both of these shrine.
