National Treasures of Japan, Kamakura Great Buddha

On the list of National Treasures of Japan, there's just one open air sculpture, the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The rest of the statues listed on this exclusive register are inside other buildings and, because of their age, in many cases it is forbidden to photograph them.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, built in 1252 and representing Amida Buddha, became world famous at the beginning of the years 1900 and quickly became one of the first images defining Japan, thanks to a poem written by Rudyard Kipling after a visit to Kamakura.