Taking a bit of a break from Kamakura in Kana to post some photos of the snowstorm from Monday, January 22. It only snows a few times a year here — sometimes only once or twice, so to get this much snow was pretty exciting, especially for this Canuck. While I didn't manage to make … Continue reading Hase in the Snow
I went on what was supposed to be a short hike to some temples and shrines in town the other day, but which became an epic seven-hour tour of places I haven't been in ages, and some I'd never visited before. Starting out on the Daibutsu hiking trail, I continued as it joined the Kuzuharaoka … Continue reading Bamboo Love
A final (I think) photo from the mantoukai held at Kotoku-in (the Daibutsu) in memory of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Of course, our thoughts are now also with Nepal.
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
The punch perm—a hairstyle popular in days gone by and worn by only the coolest of cats. And the Daibutsu. Okay, his isn't a punch perm, but in the graphic novel series, Saint Young Men, by Hikaru Nakamura—a manga series about young Jesus and young Buddha rooming together in the modern world—his hairstyle is described … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Punch Perm Daibutsu
The temple grounds were almost empty when I arrived—and right up until the ceremony was about to start. I was confused because not only did I expect more people to come out to the mantoukai (Buddhist lantern ceremony) in remembrance of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, but also because entrance that evening to the … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Through the Umbrella
Costumed visitors to Kotoku-in pay their respects at the mantoukai held in remembrance of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I'm fairly certain this pair is meant to be Yoritomo Minamoto—founder and first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, and his consort, Masako Hojo, whose family took on the role of regents of the shogun (and basically … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Historical Cosplayers
Kotoku-in, AKA the Daibutsu, has held a special mantoukai (Buddhist lantern ceremony) for the past few years to pray for those affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and to raise funds. Monks from various Buddhist sects gather at Hasedera and walk ever-so-slowly to Kotoku-in, which is lit up with candles that spectators sponsor. … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Prepping Remembrance
The road to the Daibutsu at Kotoku-in is lined with souvenir shops, a few of which have large gum ball machines full of bouncy balls. These are no ordinary bouncy balls, however. No—these are Buddha balls (and Enoden train balls). Seems a bit sacrilegious to me, but that's just the way Kamakura rolls.
Considering that the Daibutsu is one of the major reasons people come to Kamakura, it should come as no surprise that it's probably going to make more than a few appearances. And here is appearance number two!
鎌倉ペンション・Inn By The Sea Kamakura 