Kosoku-ji isn't one of Kamakura's better-known temples, but it has a lot going for it. To begin with, it's got gardens. Huge, beautiful gardens. The plum trees just finished, but now the cherry and peach are in bloom, plus at least two or three other varieties of flowering trees. It's also got history. Okay—all the … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Gentle Curves
Photo of the Day: Sakura Season
Delicate pinkish white? Check. Soft, gently falling petals? Check. Grown in such quantities that Japan glows in an ethereal, otherworldly beauty? Check. Welllll... It must be cherry blossom season. Cherry blossoms, or sakura in Japanese, are the flowers that the entire country (—>that's roughly 127,000,000 people) waits for—and they only last about a week. But … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Sakura Season
Photo of the Day: Through the Tunnel
An Enoden Line train emerges from the tunnel between Hase Station and Gokuraku-ji Station. I've mentioned that I adore red torii gates before. Well, the same goes for bridges.
Photo of the Day: Black and White Bamboo
Bamboo looks just as good in black and white as it does in vibrant greens. Just another snap from Hokoku-ji, the bamboo temple.
Photo of the Day: Duelling Mikoshi
I've posted a few photos from this festival already, one of some fancy tattoos and one of some bare bums. I thought it was finally time to post a photo of what actually happens at the festival. Two mikoshi (portable Shinto shrines/divine palanquins), supported by local men and women, locked in "battle" in the ocean … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Duelling Mikoshi
Photo of the Day: All Tied Up
Five-yen coins hang off scarlet string and drape over a boulder at Kuzuharaoka Shrine. Kuzuharaoka Shrine, with its deep reds, heart-shaped prayer tablets, and coins on string, is striking at first sight. Quite far off the road and along a hiking path, it's also tremendously peaceful.
Photo of the Day: Cleaning Up
I love that people still use this kind of broom, which—until I came to Japan—I thought only existed in fables about witches and wizards these days. How wrong I was! Witch brooms (not their real name, of course) are still very much a part of life here, and they do a great job. They're also … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Cleaning Up
Photo of the Day: Through the Lantern Hole
A red-bibbed guardian dog framed by a stone lantern at Zeniarai Benten. There's so much more to this shrine than just money washing. First of all, it has one of the most amazing entrances—a tunnel carved out of the hillside. Once through the stone tunnel, visitors walk through yet another tunnel, this time made of … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Through the Lantern Hole
Photo of the Day: Capturing Buddha
And we're back to the mantoukai (Buddhist lantern festival) of March 11. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of people there were holding (and using) recording devices of one sort or another. I had both iPad mini and DSLR, and I wasn't the only one with multiple electronics in hand. I'll … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Capturing Buddha
Photo of the Day: Kanji Engravings
This is from a large engraved stone outside Amanawa Jinja. I don't read kanji well (there are over 2000 of them!), so I'm not sure what it says, but I sure do enjoy running my fingers over it.
女性専用 - Inn By The Sea Kamakura - Women's Guesthouse 