Kamakura and the big Buddha

On day two in Tokyo we visited the area of Kamakura, just outside Tokyo. It is an area with many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. The biggest, literally, is the Great Buddha, or the Daibutsu. It is 10 meters tall (about 32 feet) and made of bronze. It was housed inside a wooden temple building but a tidal wave years ago destroyed the building but the Buddha was unharmed.

(Chuck with the giant Buddha in Kamakura)

At the Hase Kannon Temple, there were literally thousands of tiny statues at the many shrines along the walk. Each temple had longs walking paths with gardens and statues.

(Hundreds of tiny statues of Jizo, the guardian of children)


(Incense burns outside the Great Buddha)

We also visited the Zeniarai Benten Shrine that is located through a steep rock tunnel in the mountain. Once inside, it's tradition to take money and wash it in the spring water at the shrine to bring you more financial success.

(The main sanctuary at Hasedera Temple)


(One of the Buddhas at the Hase Kannon Temple)