Kamakura sightseeing

Hello, travelers. This is Kumi. Picturesque Japan Blog welcomes you to Kamakura.

We started our tour at 11:30 a.m. from Kamakura station. We took a bus from the bus stop #5 (the bus number 鎌23, 鎌24 or 鎌36), got off at "Jomyoji" stop. (*There is no bus stop called "Hokokuji")

We visited Hokokuji Temple to enjoy matcha (special green tea).
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3120.html


The admission to the temple is 200 yen. If you would like to have matcha, you pay 700 yen (admission + tea service) at the entrance.

The bamboo forest is pretty!


They have nice gardens, too.


By the way, when you take a bus, the entrance is in the middle.


If you use Suica or PASMO, touch the card to the machine. If you pay by cash, please take a ticket from the old blue machine. A number is written on the ticket, and you pay the fare according to the number when you get off. The exit is at the front (next to the driver).


We got off the bus at Hachimangu bus stop and enjoyed lunch. There are a lot of restaurants around the area.

After lunch, we visited Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3102.html

It was a weekday (Friday), but luckily, we got to see the wedding.


They tried Omikuji (fortune telling).


Omikuji often tells you some unpleasant things because they try to give you some advice to make your future better. You could keep the paper, but people often tie the paper on the trees or strings especially if the message isn't pleasant. People believe you could leave your bad luck behind.


Look at this little boy in a kimono! This is probably for shichi-go-san. The Japan Times article tells you a lot about it.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/11/11/reference/its-fall-when-kids-in-kimono-fete-7-5-3-rituals/#.WcsmE1S0OM8

Shichi-go-san is usually celebrated in November, but some people celebrate it and take photos before the shrines and photo studios get busy.


Sake barrels!!! They were all donated by sake companies. Sake was used for some rituals at the shrine and the bottles here are now empty.


It takes a while to explore Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. They have nice gardens too.


We walked on Komachi street and enjoyed shopping.


Then we visited Kotokuin Temple to see Daibutsu (the Great Buddha).
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3100.html


You could check out my blog for more photos with the Buddha.
https://pict-japan.blogspot.jp/2017/09/holding-buddha.html

Did you know that you could go inside the Buddha for 20 yen? This is until it gets dark because there is no light inside.
(*Visitors are allowed to take photos inside, but we cannot use selfie sticks)
http://kotoku-in.jp/en-site/faq


To your surprise, the Buddha has wings!? (People say they are for ventilation, but some people say they were the holes to be used to scoop out some soil when it was being built)


BTW, a lot of people think the Buddha's eyes are closed, but...


His eyes are slightly open.


Don't you have any friends who look like him? :P
Location: 日本、神奈川県鎌倉市

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