Login

Hasedera Temple

Eleven-faced Kannon and Hilltop Sea View

Hase-dera Temple is built along a hill in Kamakura and is divided into the upper and lower levels. The Kannon Hall in the upper level is the core of the temple, where the statue of Hase-kannon is enshrined, with an open-air observation deck overlooking Kamakura. The Bentendo Hall, Benten Grotto and Daikokudo Hall are located on the lower level.

Hase-dera Temple is located in the Hase area of the Kamakura seashore, and is built on a hill with beautiful scenery. It is known as the “Western Paradise of Kamakura” because of the constant flowering in all seasons.

Hase-dera Temple can be roughly divided into two parts: the upper and lower areas, and the Kannon Hall on the hill is the core building of the temple. It is said that in 721 A.D., a huge camphor tree found in Nara Hase-dera Temple was carved into two eleven-faced statues of Kannon, one of which was enshrined in Nara Hase-dera Temple, and the other was put into the sea and reached Kamakura seashore, where Kamakura Hase-dera Temple was built. More than 9 meters tall, the Hase-Kannon is indeed the largest wooden Kannon statue in Japan.

Manywhere Tips:
Besides the Kannon, Hase-dera Temple is even more famous for its flowers.

On either side of Kannon Hall are Amitabha Hall and the Kannon Museum, which houses many of the temple’s treasures. The Open-air Viewing Platform in front of Kannon Hall has a great view of Kamakura and the Yuigahama Beach.

On the way down the stone stairs, you will first pass by Jizo Hall, where thousands of Jizo Bodhisattvas are neatly arranged to protect pregnant women. The Benten Grotto, Bentendo Hall, and Daikokudo Hall are located at the foot of the hill. They are dedicated to Benzaiten and Daikokuten, both of which belong to the Seven Japanese Gods of Good Fortune and are in charge of wisdom and wealth, respectively.