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.
Photo of the Day: Crane Collection
Paper cranes have special power in Japan, something people the world over are familiar with from having heard the story of Sadako, the little girl who died of cancer due to exposure to radiation from the bombing of Hiroshma. She aimed to fold 1000 paper cranes so that her wish to live would come true. … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Crane Collection
Photo of the Day: They Work Hard for a Living
And I'm back to the rickshaw boys. Men, really, I suppose. Here they are trying to stay dry while drumming up business outside Kamakura Station on a grey and miserable day. These guys never fail to impress me.
Photo of the Day: Big Buddha Beer
Daibutsu Beer—if I drank beer, this is what I'd drink, based entirely on the label. But I don't, so I just enjoy the bottle design. The beer is one of several offerings from Shonan Beer ("Tap your potential") available at the liquor shop on Onari Shotengai (shopping street) by Kamakura Station. My parents enjoyed a … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Big Buddha Beer
Photo of the Day: The Heart of the Matter
Continuing on from yesterday's post about Kuzuharaoka Shrine, here's a shot of the heart-shaped prayer/wish tablets. As I wrote before, I've never seen anything like them.
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: 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
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