Kamakura

Monday, December 26, 2011 |

On our day trip to Kamakura, our first stop was Hasedera Temple.

Hasedera Temple (Entrance)

The temple was built in 686 and is known for its Kannon statue, the goddess of mercy which has 11 heads. Unfortunately, pictures were prohibited inside the temple and I wasn't able to take a picture of the statute.

The temple is built along side the wooded hills and is composed of 30 buildings all opened to the public. On the bottom of the slope, is a pretty garden with a pond. Unfortunately, it wasn't so pretty when I went because it was ruined by the tsunami earlier in the year. As you can see in the pictures below, the trees were extremely dried and brittle.

The temple's main building (where the Kannon statute is located) is up the slope and accessible by stairs. Along the way are hundreds of Jizo statues that are said to help the souls of dead children reach paradise.

Also along the way, is another pond and garden with bamboo water and lanterns. The two statues you see below are: Amida and Benten.

Amida is a Buddha who promised rebirth to all those who chant his name in devotion. Benton is the goddess of feminine beauty and wealth.

The swastika sign symbolizes a Buddhist temple. Its a sign of auspiciousness and good fortune and also symbolizes Buddha's heart and footprints.

Hasedera Temple - Main Building

Our second stop was the Great Buddha of Kamakura. This was the tour that I was most looking forward to.

The statue is made of bronze. It stands at a little over 43 feet tall and weighs 93 tons. It is the second largest buddha statue in Japan. It was built in 1252 and was originally located in a large temple hall. However, in the 14th and 15th centuries the temple building was destroyed multiple times by tidal waves and typhoons. Therefore, since 1495, the buddha has been sitting in the open air.

The buddha is hollow so I was able to go inside for only 20 yen! This is what it looks like inside:

Afterwards, we had a traditional Japanese lunch!

Steamed Brown Rice w/ Soy Skin & Seafood Paste

Pickled Chicken (Top Left), Sweet Tofu (Top Right), Tofu Tempura (Bottom)

Miso Soup w/ Soy Skin

Oh and lets not forget dessert!

Sweet Potato Ice Cream

The last stop in Kamakura was the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Yes, its a mouthful and I'm still trying to figure out how to say it. It was founded in 1081 by the first shogun, Minamoto Yoritomo. It was a dedication to the shogun's patron god, Hachiman. The shrine is reached by walking a long path throughout the center of the city. While walking the path, you pass multiple torii gates like the one below.

Main Stairway - 62 Steps to the Top

While visiting the shrine, we were lucky enough to see 2 weddings. One bride was more traditional than the other. I liked the modern bride more because her kimono was colorful. Both were very beautiful.

Traditional Bride

Modern Bride

Below is a picture of empty sake barrels that were donated to the shrine for decoration. Wish I could have brought one of those back home with me!

Our tour guide, Haruko, was amazing! Her mother actually lived in Forest Hills, Queens and she got the opportunity to visit NYC a few times. Unfortunately, I didn't get to take a picture with her. But I believe that we will meet again. Thanks for everything Haruko!!! You are great!