Heading towards Kita-Kamakura from Kamakura Station, following the Yokosuka Line tracks out the west side of the station, are quite a few small shrines and temples that are somewhat off the beaten track. One of the bigger temples is Jufuku-ji. Now, you can't actually enter the temple area, but it's a nice, short walk up … Continue reading Photo of the Day: The Gate at Jufuku-ji
Photo of the Day: A Bit of History
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes—a brief seven years after becoming shogun (military ruler of Japan), Yoritomo Minamoto's reign ended. Yoritomo, first shogun of the Minamoto clan, router of myriad armies, the man who brought in a dual system of government (all-powerful shogun and symbol-only emperor) that lasted until the Meiji Restoration in 1868—700 years … Continue reading Photo of the Day: A Bit of History
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
Kamakura History
Lately, I've been trying to untangle the history of the Minamoto family and Kamakura Period-era Kamakura in my head. What with all the names and changing loyalties, it can be mind-boggling to get straight who was who, who was with or against whom, and what on earth was going on. There is a wonderful book … Continue reading Kamakura History
鎌倉ペンション・Inn By The Sea Kamakura 