This has to be the most beautiful, elegant, well maintained temple by far, perhaps in all of Japan. Every single corner is manicured and thought has gone into every single piece of history that surrounds you. Beautiful statues, flowers, waterfalls, Koi Fish, ponds, sweeping views of the ocean, a cave......words cannot describe how beautiful this temple is. And trust us we have been to Kyoto. Visiting this Temple alone made our trip to Japan worth it. This is truly a world heritage monument. Pristine is an understatement. The Buddha and idols are awe inspiring. Beautiful flowers everywhere you turn. Even if you are not spiritual by nature, you will be moved by the time you leave this Temple. If you are spiritual, you will feel like you have just visited heaven.

We loved our visit to this historic and stunning temple. There was an amazing view of the city and the sea. We enjoyed strolling through the complex and seeing the various structures, sculptures and gardens. A little busy later in the day as it is a last stop for many peoples' Kamakura day trips.

This was the third Buddhist temple that my wife and I visited in Japan. The first two seemed like tourist traps focused on scamming you out of $ for wishes. This temple, however, was outstanding. The setting was amazing and there was a lot of variety to the buildings and various statues. They even had statutes built in to the walls of a cave. Unlike the other two temples, this one was very tranquil and peaceful. Highly recommended.

This is a very nice temple and well worth a stop if you're in Kamakura. There is a short climb up to the main hall and a view of the sea. There are many small stone statues and a nice rock garden. There are a lot of people there but it's less crowded that some of the other places in Kamakura.

Utilized the Enoshima Electric Railway to transport us to Hase. We used our iPhone maps app to locate the temple. It's unassuming and hidden on the side of the mountain. Tucked up and protected. Folks, there are many steps to make your way to the Hase-dera Temple and more to reach the lookout with the views of the beaches. Worth the climb, the amazing temple is your reward. FYI no pictures inside of the 11 headed statue Kannon. The grounds are impeccably maintained. The trees groomed and perfect. The ponds a koi habitat. Very tranquil spot. Less travelled than other temples. Highly recommend a visit! Please watch your food at this location. There are large birds...kites flying around looking for a easy meal. Would we visit again...maybe not. I wish we could have spent time exploring the little quaint towns off the train. But it is AMAZING!

We arrived at Kamakura at 8:20 am and conveniently exited the JR station and entered the Enoden Train station next door. The Enoden Train platform has toilet facilities, quite unusual. The retro green Enoden train soon brought us to the Hase Station. A very short walk away is Hasedera Temple. Its big red lantern and shaded pine tree provide an elegant entrance to this temple. Entrance fee is 400 yen and it opens at 8 am. By bwing early we could enjoy the beauty and serenity found in this temple. Its garden is well maintained and there are many varieties of flowers to be admired at any time of the year. We saw peony flowers, shaga etc. It is a compact temple built of the hillside and there are many steps to climb. Somehow the walking paths will lead one to all the important buildings and sights here. We saw the view of the Sagami Bay from the observation platform. We also walked up the Prospect Path at our own path as there was no one around at that early time. The Kannon-do Hall houses the towering Kannon statue. It is cooling to walk through the cave with its numerous carved statues. The large smiling Nagomi Jizo brings peace of mind to visitors. We also enjoyed looking for three sets of Ryo-en Jizo (3 little Jizo statues) in three different part of the garden. Highly recommended.

This was one of the last stops on my Japan trip - just decided to get off the Enoshima tram on a whim without knowing anything about Hase dera itself - and it turned out to be one the favorite places I visited. Beautiful and unique temple with the famous 30 ft wooden Kannon statue. However what really makes Hase dera stand out is both the Benzaiten Grotto, a magical cave packed full of shrines, and the most stunning temple gardens I saw during my entire trip (koi ponds, karesansui gardens, bridges and bamboo fountains). There is a small path up and around the garden which allows you to see the temple grounds at different angles, along with assorted shrines throughout, including the one with the Jizō statues, which I didn't understand at first but, upon reading, realized they are meant to be memorials by parents who have lost a child. Truly appreciated this place more than some of the more famous temples in Kyoto and Tokyo. It is a very peaceful, holy, and beautiful place and I highly recommend a stop here.

The main shrine in Kamakura, Hase Dara temple is approachable by foot from the Giant Buddha statue. Located at a height, the site is teeming with pious pilgrims and curious tourists. Brilliant views of the ocean and the city.