Kamakura

Kamakura has many historically significant Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of them over 1,200 years old. It used to be thought that between 1180 and 1333, effective power had moved completely from the Emperor in Kyoto to Kamakura, but the progress of research has revealed this was not the case. Even after the consolidation of the shogunate's power in the east,
the Emperor continued to rule the country, particularly its west. However, it's undeniable that Kamakura had a certain autonomy and that it had surpassed the technical capital of Japan politically, culturally and economically. The shogunate even reserved for itself an area in Kyoto where lived its representatives, who were there to protect its interests.
Although much of the city was devastated in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, damaged temples and shrines, founded centuries ago, have since been carefully restored.

Engakuji Temple was founded in the 5th year of the Koan Era (1282), its founder was the high-ranking priest, Mugaku Sogen (Bukko Kokushi), who arrived in Japan from China.
This temple was built mainly to honor the war-dead from the conflict with Mongolia.
Today, with its Zen meditation halls, it is loved by many and thus known as "The Temple of Spirit".The Grand Bell was cast in 1301.

Tokeiji was founded in 1285. In feudal ages where women normally couldn't initiate a divorce this temple was a sanctuary where they fled to break their ties.
In 1871, this tradition was broken due to the anti-Buddhist movement at the time, and in 1902 the curtain was closed on its role as a nunnery and the temple became a monastery.

Kencho-ji is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan, construction work being completed in 1253.
Its founder was Rankei Doryu: "If you have lost your true self, all phenomena bring you nothing but annoyance. If you discover your essence of mind, you can follow nothing but true path."

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu temple:

Then the Eishoji:

And Kaizoji, not the most spectacular one, but definitely one of my favorite places there, may be because I had it all for myself:

A rather steep walk up the hill brings you to the Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine: the first year of the Bunji Era (1185) was the year of the snake. In this year, on the day on the snake, in the month of the snake, Minamoto Yoritomo had a dream in which the god Ugafukujin delivered a divine message.
He was told "in a valley to the worthwest, there a miraculous spring that gushes out of the rocks. Go there and worship the gods of Shinto, and peace will come to the people".
He found the spring, as it had been described, and immediately enshrined Ugafukujin.
It is believed that if you spend money that has been washed in the spring's water, it will increase many times and come back to you.

And then it is a nice walk in the forest, between bamboos, walking on cherry tree petals, to come back to the city.

Kotoku-in, with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous monument.
A 14th-century tsunami (or strong winds, depending on the version) destroyed the temple that once housed the Great Buddha, but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since.
This iconic Daibutsu is arguably amongst the few images which have come to represent Japan in the world's collective imagination.

Hase-dera: this is a shrine where visitors can pray for easy childbirth and prosperity.
Surrounding the hall, there are thousands of litthle statues standing in long rows, to comfort the souls of miscarried and deceased children.

 

 

 

 

Dinner time, shall I have a bento tonight?

No, it will be fried rice