Great Buddha of Kamakura switched to printed seals on 19 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 11:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Great Buddha of Kamakura switched to printed goshuin at Kotoku-in from 19 to 23 September 2026, giving visitors to the temple in Kamakura a time-limited change to its usual seal service. The arrangement was announced on 17 September and covered both a regular design and an autumn seasonal version.
Printed goshuin marked the autumn holiday period
Kotoku-in said the temporary arrangement was introduced to ease crowding during the autumn holiday period. Instead of handwritten entries, the temple distributed sheets designed to be attached to a visitor's goshuin book.
The official notice identified two options: a year-round original and a seasonal special version for autumn. The service ran from 19 September through 23 September 2026, so the arrangement has now ended, while the notice remains a useful record of what visitors found during the five-day period. The temple announcement for the autumn period names both the dates and Kotoku-in as the venue.
The printed service connected visitors with a 1252 statue
The seal arrangement took place beside a bronze Amida Buddha whose construction began in 1252, according to Kotoku-in. The statue is designated a National Treasure by the Japanese government and stands about 11.3 metres tall, weighing around 121 tonnes.
The figure was first housed in a hall. Records cited by the temple describe damage from typhoons in 1334 and 1369, followed by destruction in 1498. The hall was not rebuilt, leaving the statue in the open air. That history gives the short-lived printed service a direct connection with a monument that has shaped the visual character of Kamakura for centuries. The official history of the bronze statue records its construction date, dimensions and changing setting.
Kotoku-in and the Great Buddha of Kamakura in context
Kotoku-in belongs to the Jodo Buddhist tradition and identifies the seated bronze figure as its principal image. The statue is hollow, and the temple provides an interior visit as a separate part of the experience, subject to its own arrangements.
The site is in Hase, an area of Kamakura associated with the temple grounds and the open-air figure. The official tourism listing describes the location as about a seven-minute walk from Hase Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway. It also records a bus connection from the east exit of JR Kamakura Station to the stop named Daibutsu-mae, close to the entrance.
Visiting Great Buddha of Kamakura: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The special printed goshuin service ran at Kotoku-in from 19 September to 23 September 2026, with regular and autumn seasonal versions available.
- The change concerned the form of the temple seal service. Visitors during that period received printed sheets rather than handwritten entries.
- Kotoku-in is in Hase, Kamakura. Hase Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway is the nearest named rail connection in the official tourism information.
- The statue is a large hollow bronze figure in an open-air temple setting. Its interior is reached within the monument, so the visit involves moving through a confined historic structure.
- Japan's official language is Japanese and its national currency is the yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Great Buddha of Kamakura
When did the printed goshuin service take place at Great Buddha of Kamakura?
The temporary service ran from 19 September to 23 September 2026 at Kotoku-in. It offered printed year-round and autumn seasonal versions.
What is Great Buddha of Kamakura?
It is a National Treasure bronze image of Amida Buddha at Kotoku-in in Kamakura. Construction began in 1252, and the statue is about 11.3 metres tall.
Where is Great Buddha of Kamakura and how do you get there?
Kotoku-in is in Hase, Kamakura, near Hase Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway. The official tourism information also lists a bus from JR Kamakura Station to Daibutsu-mae.
