Hase-dera

長谷寺

A “temple of flowers” housing a nine-meter-tall eleven-faced Kannon, with a hydrangea path and a viewpoint over the Yuigahama coast. It is one of Kamakura's most popular temples.

Hase-dera sits on the hillside between Hase Station and the Great Buddha of Kamakura. It is said to have been founded in 736. Its principal image is a standing wooden eleven-faced Kannon about 9.18 meters tall, one of Japan's largest wooden Kannon carvings, covered in gold leaf. Legend says it was carved from the same camphor tree as the Kannon of Nara's Hase-dera. Since 2021, visitors have been able to approach the foot of the statue for closer worship. The temple is built into the mountainside and divided into a Lower Precinct and an Upper Precinct. The Lower Precinct includes a pond for releasing living creatures and the Benten Cave, a cave dedicated to Benzaiten that visitors can enter by stooping. The Upper Precinct contains the Kannon-dō, the Amida-dō, a sutra repository with a rotating sutra case, and a Kannon Museum. The Kenshōdai viewpoint in the Upper Precinct overlooks the Yuigahama coast, the Miura Peninsula and central Kamakura. It is one of the few temples in Kamakura with sea views, and the Kaikō-an restaurant next to it serves vegetarian curry and dango. Hase-dera is famous as a “temple of flowers,” with blooms throughout the year. Its most famous display is the June hydrangea. Along the Viewing Walk that climbs the hill from the viewpoint, about 40 varieties and more than 2,500 hydrangea plants line both sides, so you can enjoy flowers and sea views at once. During the peak season in early to mid June, you must pick up a timed entry ticket at the entrance and enter by number, and waits often exceed an hour. Autumn foliage (late November to early December) is illuminated at night. Three small Jizō statues called the Ryōen Jizō are scattered across three locations. Visiting all of them is said to bring good relationships, making them a popular photo spot. The rotating sutra case in the sutra repository is said to be equivalent to reading the entire canon in one turn; it is open on the 18th of each month. Admission is 400 yen, and the Kannon Museum costs an extra 300 yen. Access: about 5 minutes on foot from Hase Station on the Enoden line, or about 7 minutes from the Great Buddha. Allow about 1 hour (1.5–2 hours during hydrangea season). Note: even on weekdays, you may queue during hydrangea season. Arriving when the gates open at 8 a.m. is best. The Upper Precinct involves many steps. Photos are allowed on the grounds but not inside the Kannon-dō. During the evening illumination, you must re-enter the temple.

Opening hours

April–June 08:00–17:00; July–March 08:00–16:30 (extended during the illumination season)

Temple · Hydrangeas · Guanyin · Sea views · Autumn leaves

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