Hasedera Temple
長谷寺
A 9-meter gilded Kannon statue, hydrangea season that draws thousands, and an ocean view that makes the climb worth it every day
About Hasedera Temple
Hasedera Temple is one of Kamakura's most complete experiences: a complex of interconnected gardens, caves, ponds, and galleries on a hillside above Sagami Bay. The centerpiece is a gilded 11-headed Kannon statue, 9.18 meters tall and carved from a single camphor tree, said to have been found washed ashore at Kamakura in the 8th century. The viewing platform above the main hall has an unobstructed panorama of Yuigahama Beach and the Pacific beyond it. In June, about 2,500 hydrangea plants covering the hillside below the platform create one of the most reliably spectacular seasonal flower displays in Japan.
Essential Tips
Arrive at 8 AM opening for the quietest experience. The Kannon hall, cave, and viewing terrace are all best before the midday groups
Admission is ¥400 adults, ¥200 children under 12. No booking needed
In June (hydrangea season), come on a weekday before 11 AM to avoid the timed-entry queue system. Peak weekends can have 30-60 minute queues
The Benten Cave requires stooping and is dimly lit. Not suitable for people with low back problems
The Great Buddha is 7 minutes' walk north-east. Both can be done in a morning starting at 8 AM
Clear days give the best ocean views from the terrace. Winter mornings (December-February) have the longest sightlines
Photography inside the Kannon hall is allowed during specific visiting periods. Check current rules at the entrance
The temple has an elevator in the main building for access between levels if the hillside steps are difficult
Hase Station (Enoden) is 5 minutes' walk. The Enoden Day Pass (¥700) covers the full Enoshima Electric Railway if also visiting Enoshima
The lower garden pond (at entrance level) is the least visited part of the temple and worth 10 minutes of quiet wandering
Don't Miss
The 11-Headed Kannon
The Juichimen Kannon (11-headed Goddess of Mercy) stands 9.18 meters tall in the main hall, gilded in gold leaf with eleven smaller heads carved above the main face, each representing a different aspect of compassion. The statue is housed in a dedicated hall you walk through slowly as your eyes adjust from the bright garden outside to the interior. Photographs from inside the Kannon hall are allowed during designated periods only. Check current rules at the entrance.
Ocean Viewing Platform
The hillside viewing terrace above the main hall looks south over Yuigahama Beach and Sagami Bay, with the Miura Peninsula and sometimes the Izu Peninsula visible on clear days. In winter, the view extends further and the air is sharpest. The platform gets crowded by mid-morning; the first 30 minutes after opening is when you can stand at the railing without waiting.
Hydrangea Season
From late May into early July, the hillside below the viewing platform is covered with approximately 2,500 hydrangea plants in purple, blue, and white. The Japanese term for this scene is ajisai (紫陽花), and Hasedera is one of the most famous ajisai spots in the Kanto region. The timed queuing on peak weekends is worth the wait; coming on a weekday bypasses it entirely.
Benten Cave
A low cave carved into the rock face of the hillside contains multiple small stone statues of Benzaiten (goddess of everything that flows: music, time, water, knowledge) and her sixteen children. The ceiling is low enough that most adults must stoop to walk through. The cave is damp, roughly lit, and quiet, and the transition from bright garden to dark passage is abrupt and effective.
What to Do Here
Full Temple Circuit
Start at the entrance and work up through the lower garden (pond, pagoda, stone Jizo statues), enter the main building complex for the Kannon hall and adjacent galleries, exit onto the viewing terrace, then descend via the Benten Cave path and through the hydrangea terraces. This circuit hits all the major elements without backtracking. Do it slowly rather than quickly: the temple rewards attention to detail.
Tips:
- Start at opening (8 AM) to have the Kannon hall to yourself
- Elevator access available in the main building if steps are a problem
- The lower garden (pond level) is the least visited area and worth a slow 10 minutes
- Photography rules in the Kannon hall vary; check signs on entry
June Hydrangea Visit
Hasedera's hydrangea season runs from late May to early July, peaking in mid-June. The terraced hillside below the viewing platform is the main display area. Come on a weekday to avoid the timed-entry queuing system that operates on peak weekends. Evening illuminations of the hydrangea are sometimes offered on specific June evenings; check the official website in advance.
Tips:
- Check the Hasedera official website in late May for the current bloom status and hours
- Weekday visits between 8-10 AM avoid the queuing system entirely
- The blue and purple hydrangea against the Pacific backdrop is the photograph
- Combine with the Great Buddha (7 min walk) for a full Hase morning
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
general
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (March 1 – September 30)
winter
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (October 1 – February 28)
last Entry
30 minutes before closing
hydrangea Season
Extended evening hours sometimes offered in June for illuminated hydrangea viewing; check official website
Best Time to Visit
Early morning for the Kannon hall without queues. June (peak mid-month) for hydrangeas. Any clear day for the ocean viewpoint.
Avoid:
Hydrangea peak (mid-June) on weekends: a timed-entry queuing system operates and waits can be 30-60 minutes. Come on a weekday in hydrangea season.
Nearby
Kamakura Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)
The 13th-century bronze Buddha sitting in the open air. 7-minute walk north-east from Hasedera.
500 m
Goryo Shrine
Small, quiet Shinto shrine between Hasedera and the Great Buddha, often missed by visitors, with peaceful grounds.
0.3 km
Yuigahama Beach
The main beach area south of Hase Station. Busy in summer (July-August); quiet and walk-worthy in other seasons.
0.5 km
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Kamakura's central shrine. Take the Enoden from Hase to Kamakura Station (5 min), then walk 10 minutes.
2.5 km
Gallery
The main hall and Kannon building with the hillside gardens leading up to the viewing platform
The 11-headed Kannon: 9.18 meters, gilded, carved from a single camphor tree
The viewing platform: Yuigahama Beach below, Sagami Bay beyond, Miura Peninsula in the distance
Ajisai (hydrangea) season: approximately 2,500 plants, peak bloom mid-June
Benten Cave: carved into the cliff face, low-ceilinged, with small Benzaiten statues inside
History
founding
According to temple tradition, the founding priest Tokudo carved two Kannon statues from a single camphor tree in 721 AD. He enshrined one at Hasedera in Nara and sent the other out to sea with a prayer that it would find the correct place to bring benefit to people. The statue washed ashore at Nagai Bay in Sagami Province in 736 AD and was carried to the current Kamakura hillside site, where Hasedera was established to enshrine it.
significance
Hasedera is one of the most visited temples in the Kanto region and the principal place of worship for Kannon in Kamakura. The 11-headed Kannon statue is believed to offer protection from suffering in this life and enlightenment in the next. The temple also maintains an important collection of stone Jizo figures dedicated to children.
name Origin
Hasedera is named after Hase, a place in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) where the founding priest Tokudo originally carved the Kannon statues. There is another Hasedera in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, and the Kamakura temple takes its name from its spiritual connection to that original site.
Getting There
Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway)
Station: Hase Station
Exit: Main exit
Walk: 5 minutes to temple entrance
The most direct route. Take the Enoden from Kamakura Station to Hase (1 stop, about 3 minutes). From Hase Station, turn right (south) and walk 5 minutes. Enoden Day Pass (¥700) is worth buying if also visiting Enoshima.
From the Great Buddha (on foot)
Station: Kotoku-in (Great Buddha)
Exit:
Walk: 7 minutes south-west
Walk south from the Great Buddha entrance and turn right (west) toward the ocean. Hasedera is signposted. The two attractions are natural half-morning companions: Great Buddha first (more exposed to sun in early morning), then Hasedera.
Location
3-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
Nearest: Hase Station (Enoden / Enoshima Electric Railway) (5 minutes from Hase Station)
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