Kamakura

25 July, Tuesday - Weather was fine in Tokyo. By 'fine', I mean, cloudy. To be exact, the morning was foggy. There must have been a shower the previous night. But I slept through the whole night like a log. Whee! A good day indeed for the trip to Kamakura with my Japanese 'foster parents'!

First stop, Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine (鶴が丘八万神宮). There're numerous shrines in Kamakura, one of the oldest cities in Japan and Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine is one of the most important.

It was originally built in 1063 near Yuigahama, and was dedicated to the Emperor Ojin, his mother Empress Jingu and his wife Hime-gami. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate, moved it to its present location in 1191 and invited Hachiman, the God of warriors, to reside there and guard his government. ~Wikipedia

Minamoto no Sanetomo, the third Kamakura shogun, was assassinated on February 13, 1219 by an archer hiding behind the great ginkgo tree that still stands aside the great staircase at the shrine. ~Wikipedia

This tree is now about a thousand years old.

A lake full of water lillies. Unfortunately, the flower season was over.

Next stop, Kotokuin Temple (高徳院), where the famous Kamakura Bronze Buddha (大仏, daibutsu) statue resides.

This statue was originally housed in a temple. The building was washed away by a tsunami in 1498, leaving the bronze statue intact.

• Weight; 93tons
• Height; 13.35m
• Length of Face; 2.35m
• Length of Eye; 1.0m
• Length of Mouth; 0.82m
• Length of Ear; 1.90m
• Length from knee to knee; 9.10m
• Circumference of thumb; 0.85m

Phew! Even the great Buddha couldn't stand the summer heat!

This tree was planted by the Siam King during His visit to the temple.

The third stop, 長谷観音 Temple which is built by a hillside.

A zen garden.

Hungry carps waiting to be fed.

Countless Buddha statues.

A pond.

There was a big Kannon statue coated with gold paint. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed in the temple.

A view of the city from the hillside.

- 25 July 2006, Tuesday -