Kamakura 2019: Hasedera Temple (長谷寺)

Just down the street from the Great Buddha of Kamakura is Hasedera Temple. The temple is built on the slope of a wooded hill and along the path up to the main hall are lots of small statues of praying monks. Inside Hasedera’s main hall is a large eleven-headed statue of the goddess Kannon. Photos of the statue are unfortunately prohibited, but I can show you a photo of one of the other gilded Buddhist statues from another room of the building.

From up at the main hall there’s a short walking trail called Prospect Road that goes along the hillside. Buddhist statues can be found along the path and there are also a few points where you can get views of the town below.

Before leaving Hasedera I went into a small cave on the temple grounds that’s called Benten-kutsu. The cave got its name because its home to sculptures of Benten and other gods. Because the cave is off to the side it’s easy to miss, but if you’re standing at the bottom of Hasedera and look to the right you’ll see the path to it.