Zuisen Temple

One of the things I love best about Japan is its greenery. It may have massive cities and more concrete than you can shake a stick at, but when it's green, it's green--with ferns, bamboo, towering cedars, and soft moss. And you really don't have to go too far off the beaten track to find … Continue reading Zuisen-ji Green

It's 6am and I'm at Hong Kong International Airport. I cannot for the life of me remember what this is, just that it is from Zuisen-ji. But, I haven't posted for two days, so up it goes. Will try to get details once I'm home.

I love bamboo used as a water pipe. My favourite bamboo-as-conduit is at Hasedera, just down the street from our inn, but this little bit of bamboo, thanks to the extreme green surrounding it, has also become a favourite.  

Zuisen-ji's cave and flowers reflected in its little pond.

The area behind the main hall at Zuisen-ji is comprised of caves carved from the rock wall, a pond, and several bridges. It's a beautiful corner of a beautiful temple.

There are two sets of stairs leading up to Zuisen-ji, this set of old, uneven stairs, and a set of newer, easy-to-walk stairs. I found the older stairs to be much more appealing. I also liked the narrow island of green between the two sets.

Zuisen-ji, tucked away in the hills northeast of Kamakura Station, is famous for its gardens. It's not so old compared to other Kamakura temples, having been founded in 1327, but it is one of the more important temples nonetheless what with its close association with members of the Muromachi Shogunate. Zuisen-ji is also on the … Continue reading Zuisen-ji