Visiting the Great Buddha of Kamakura, also known as the Outdoor Buddha
It was my friend Freda who recommended that I visit Kamakura. JTB USA's Sunrise Tours offered a full day tour of Kamakura, Yokohama, and Tokyo Bay. Aside from the Kamakura Daibutsu or Great Buddha, there was so much to see. We made stops at Hasedera Temple, Chinatown, and Sankeien Garden.
Here are some photo highlights from this tour:
Hasedera Temple - known as "the 4th station among 33 holy places in the Kanto area"
Sammon Main Gate is the main entrance to Hasedera Temple
Beautiful garden and pond inside the grounds of Hasedera Temple
There are several buddha shrines such as this one
Daikokuten, one of the seven Japanese gods of Fortune. He is considered the god of wealth.
I'm standing right next to the stone statue of "Happy" Jizo buddha, known to comfort the souls of unborn children.
And Alan gets close to the stone statue of another of the seven Japanese gods: Hotei, god of happiness, satisfaction, and abundance.
The Kyozo Sutra Archive or Library
Rotating bookracks or rinzo. By turning them, it is believed you can earn the same merit as reading all the Buddhist sutras.
Inside Benten-kutsu Cave with incredible sculptures carved on the rock walls.
Carved out of the stone walls is Benzaiten, another of the seven lucky gods, carrying a Japanese mandolin.
Kamakura Daibutsu - also called the Outdoor Buddha or Great Buddha of Kamakura
The Great Buddha of Kamakura
Story about the history of the Great Buddha statue and its dimensions.
For scale, I'm showing this photo with Alan standing next to the Great Buddha statue, which is almost 44 feet tall.
Here is the Great Buddha's back side...
...And here are his giant straw slippers.
While we were here, super typhoon Vongfong was all over the news but you'd never know with the beautiful weather we're enjoying. Just to be on the safe side, I bought an amulet to protect us from calamity. (wink!)
Yokohama - "the first harbor city introduced to the world as the entrance to Japan;" also known as the birthplace of Japan's modern culture
Yokohama Bay Bridge
It was here that we had a Chinese-style lunch at a high-floor of a building overlooking the harbor.
Yokohama Chinatown is one of the largest in Japan and in Asia.
Sankeien Garden - this expansive Japanese garden is approximately 43 acres and its construction took 20 years to complete.
A wedding was taking place and several of the entourage were wearing the most beautiful Kimonos and Japanese national costumes that I've ever seen.
She was gracious to let me take her photo. Isn't her kimono just beautiful?
Another photo of the lovely Japanese girl and her friends.
Japanese bride and groom wearing traditional costumes.
I was following this group of women most of whom were wearing the most beautiful kimonos I've ever seen.
The Three-Story Pagoda of Old Tomyoji
Admiring the beauty of the Sankeien Garden
A pond in the Sankeien Garden
This story continued from High Tech Ramen. This is part of a travel series about Japan.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Nara
October 9, 2014
JTB Tour 2
A highly revered site by Shinto devotees, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine is famous for its thousands of lanterns. We proceeded to stroll here after touring the mind-blowing Todaiji Temple and Great Buddha Hall. The Kasuga Grand Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine in Japan and one of the oldest.
Stone lanterns in Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Main entrance to Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Approaching the main entrance, you'll find stacked barrels of sake on the right hand side...
...And a wall of wooden plaques inscribed with Japanese prayers and dedications on the left hand side
"In Japan, there are two major religions: Buddhism and Shintoism. But at
Christmas, everyone becomes a Christian," our JTB USA tour guide said with a wide
grin. On a serious note, she later explained that 80% of Japan's population practice Shinto.
The Kasuga Taisha is considered the head shrine of all 3,000 Shinto shrines in Japan. Shinto followers believe that spirits or "kami" exist
in natural places such as animals, plants, stones, rivers, and
mountains. It's no wonder the beautiful and serene grounds of this most celebrated shrine is purposefully located at the Kasugayama Primeval Forest.
The pathway leading up to the main hall is flanked by numerous stone lanterns, some swathed in moss.
The lanterns symbolically provide a guiding light, illuminating one's path in life.
I caught her taking a selfie by the row of stone lanterns. Adorable!
A variety of bronze and golden hanging lanterns
Numerous lanterns hang along the corridors of the complex
In many years past, all the lanterns were lit every evening. I could
only imagine how spectacular it must be to see all the glowing lanterns here. Nowadays, they are only lit during two big annual
festivals.
Lanterns abound leading up to one of the main buildings of the shrine.
Here, worshipers make offerings and pray for peace, happiness, and well-being.
Some of the donated stone lanterns that have accumulated over the years
Details on a stone lantern
Lined up like soldiers guarding the hall.
There are three main buildings in this shrine: the Haiden (Worship Hall), Heiden (Offering Hall), and Honden
(Main Hall, which houses the kami). When we were here, the Main Hall was under restoration but you can find photos and learn more by visiting these helpful sites:
Great Buddha
Todaiji Temple, Nara
October 9, 2015
JTB Tour 2
The Nara Daibutsu or the Great Buddha of Nara
Inside the Todaiji Temple's main hall, the prominent Nara Daibutsu or Great Buddha of Nara is an incredible sight to behold. On an elevated stage directly in front of it was a group of monks chanting. They were rehearsing for an important prayer event.
Here's a short video clip.
The monks working hard in preparation for a special occasion.
The lower platform is neatly laden with tatami mats and instruments.
I was in awe of the large statue. With my eyes, I traced its every intricate detail. Behind its bronze body is a shiny gold backdrop embellished with tiny buddha figures. I'm guessing it's the halo.
To give you an idea of the enormous size: the bronze lotus petal next to the Great Buddha is 10 feet tall.
With this photo, you can gauge the enormity of this building and the Great Buddha.
The Vairocana Buddha is the Todaiji Temple's chief object of worship. It is known to be the "Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun." Though it has been damaged several times due to fires or earthquakes, it has always been repaired. It's astounding to realize that the current statue dates back to 1692.
For scale, I took this picture showing tourists taking photos of the Great Buddha.
Seated next to the Great Buddha is a Bodhisattva or enlightened one, known to help people overcome their obstacles.
To the left of the Great Buddha is Kokuuzo Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of wisdom and memory.
Look at the exquisite and gilded back side of the Bodhissattva statue.
One of the most imposing statues inside the hall is the a highly detailed wooden carving of Koumokuten, a Celestial guardian and protector of Buddha's realm.
The giant statue of the guardian Koumokuten is a detailed wooden carving.
Near this giant statue is the popular "healing pillar." The wooden pillar has a small opening where visitors endeavor to crawl through. If successful, one is believed to find lasting enlightenment and a guaranteed place in heaven.
The Great Buddha Hall or Daibutsuden, the largest wooden structure in the world.
The Daibutsuden has also been destroyed many times in the past because
of fires of war and natural disasters. But it was always rebuilt to
house the Great Buddha. The current building is only about 1/3 smaller than the original, yet it is the world's largest wooden structure.
A closer look at the Octagonal Lantern, one of the oldest treasures of the temple.
The monks walking back to the monastery after their rehearsal.
Some fun facts:
Great Buddha Hall
Height = 159.89 feet
Great Buddha
Height of Body = 48.91 feet
Length of Head = 17.39 feet
Length of Eye = 3.34 feet
Length of Ear = 8.33 feet
