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: 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: 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: 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.
Photo of the Day: Breakin’ Dishes
Sometimes, you've just gotta smash a plate, but where? And what will the neighbours think? We've all been there, right? Luckily, Kuzuharaoka Jinja has a small stack of clay dishes ready, and a big rock at which you can freely toss/whip/skip your plates. And all for the low, low price of ¥100 per plate. It … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Breakin’ Dishes
Photo of the Day: Shrine on the Hill
Just up the road from Hasedera on Yuigahama Dori, off to the side and into the hills, is a small shrine by the name of Amanawa Jinja. The torii gate is plain stone, and the stairway up is so steep, you can barely see the shrine building up above from the bottom. It lacks the … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Shrine on the Hill
Photo of the Day: Cave Priest
Kamakura is a pretty spooky place. It's really not surprising, considering the bloodshed that took place in and around the city. Being the capital of a shogunate that had violently wrenched power away from Kyoto—the imperial capital of Japan—and which had enemies near and far, bent on revenge and thirsty for power, well, something was … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Cave Priest
Photo of the Day: Fireworks
Japan loves fireworks. Like, loooves them. Big city, small city—every city with even an ounce of self-respect has a hanabi taikai. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. But not by much. Kamakura—swimming in self-respect as it is–hosts a very popular fireworks show every July. We can see it from our yard, though the view is … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Fireworks
Photo of the Day: Historical Cosplayers
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
女性専用 - Inn By The Sea Kamakura - Women's Guesthouse 