Kamakura and Enoshima – Japan – Thursday 15th October 2015
Back on the tour bus! This time only for a day. This time with 21 people, all of whom are linked to Cam and Yuko, whose wedding we are here to celebrate.
What a day it was. Incredible that a bride and groom 3 days out from their wedding gift us this tour they have organised, a complete and amazing day for us all. Even handing out treats – a range of individually wrapped Yokohama biscuits.
Firstly we all arrive at the Yokohama Bay Hotel to meet the bus. Easily recognisable with ‘Yuko’ printed on a sign in the front window.
We began at the Hokokuji temple surrounded by the well known bamboo forest. The ages described in many of these sites is difficult to imagine: this temple dates back to 1334.
At the entrance a woman tended the garden kneeling over a patch of moss plucking weeds out inch by inch. This set the scene for the perfect yet rustic gardens surrounding the temple.
On entering the temple area there is a thatch structure in the centre that captured my attention. Thick strong thatched roof over a bell.
On through the tall bamboo forest with sunlight filtering through the tall (very tall) bamboo. The glimpses of stone carvings in the caves on the cliffside, housing ancient tombs – and up to the teahouse where one was served whipped green tea while looking out over the forest.
It was easy to overlook that the presentation of every space in the garden was planned and shaped beautifully. Water features, shaped plants, stone and bamboo structures. Hmmmm – new garden plans when we get home!
Next stop the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Daibutsu in Japanese). Signs at the entrance request peace and silence while visiting. Inside endless groups of school children and many many tourists create a level of noise that is far from peace. The only peace appeared to be underground in the structure of the Great Buddha. However just looking at the beautiful statue of the Buddha I was struck by the conflict that Buddha wanted no effigies or structures, yet this statue was such a peaceful reminder.
We had been wayward in our time-keeping so Cam and Yuko were having to adjust the timetable. This had originally seen a visit to the Hase-dera temple cut from our itinerary. On discussion it was reinstated – and we all agreed afterwards – a worthwhile reinstating!
A statue of the eleven headed Kannon is said to be one of the largest wooden carvings in Japan. Carved from Camphor wood and gilded in gold. It stops you. Not having information before entering the temple we walked into a covered area and there stood a massive gold coloured Buddha like statue.
The temple grounds covered several layers including up the hill with lookouts and gardens and down into caves and garden areas.
“The grounds of the temple are also home to hundreds of small Jizō statues, the guardian deity of children, which are placed there by parents mourning the loss of unborn children. The statues are replaced after a year or so to make way for more statues, and it is estimated that more than 50,000 Jizō statues have been placed at Hasedera Temple since WWII.”
On to lunch and what a lunch it was. At the Prince Hotel in Kamakura a Japanese feast – I lost count of the number of courses and even forgot photographing them in the feast of small dishes and endless tastes. Ending up with photos from the first and the last. All in a restaurant overlooking the bay, and Enoshima where we would spend the afternoon.
After all the food the strong temptation was for a nap but it was Enoshima – an island where cars are not permitted and winding narrow streets cross the small offshore island linked by a causeway.
We had 2 hours to explore independently after taking an elevator! to the top. I decided to head to the end first and after Chris and I visited a temple housing a statue of Fudo-Myo protector of Buddha While the statues at the entrance to the temple and Fudo-Myo himself appeared war-like the feeling in the temple was calm and comforting.
I left Chris here taking photos and headed off to the end of the island. As I wandered along narrow shop lined streets I passed a sign that said the caves were “7 minutes walk’ ahead. Decided that was for me. On the way I was distracted by the sudden view of Mount Fuji. A distant familiar shape rising through the cloud and slowly setting sun.
On and on until I reached the Enoshima Iwaya Caves. I paid the entrance fee – then looked at the time and realised I had very little time to get back to the meeting place.
After a quick circuit of Cave 1 and a quiet moment at an underground pool I started a rapid hike up many, many stairs back to the entrance. Out of breath and convinced I was to be last back I did have a funny moment at a fork in the road when I met 3 young men – “Is this the way out” I panted. “We are lost” they replied “And we don’t want to take the wrong way”. I made a call – headed off and later we met up at the entrance happy to have made it to the end.
On the way I found Chris at the entrance and we both found the meeting place discovering after all that – we were the first there!
More Photos Here
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| 4 Japan Oct 15 |
