Kamakura Trip last Part; Benzaiten and Sasuke Inari Shrines

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Kamakura Trip 5th Part; Kotoko-in Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

How to go to Sasuke Inari Shrine;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. This temple is around 1km away from the Kamakura train station. Admission is FREE. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

Sasuke Inari Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kamakura and the site of the Hidden Village of Kamakura. It's located within a stone's throw of Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine. Tradition holds that Sasuke Inari Shrine was created by Minamoto Yoritomo. While in exile in Izu, Yoritomo was visited in a dream by an old man from the Hidden Village of Kamakura who instructed Yoritomo of the timing to begin battling his enemies. When Yoritomo succeed and became Shogun, he created this shrine in gratitude.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasuke_Inari_Shrine

Kamakura Trip last Part; Sasuke Inari Shrine

Kamakura Trip 5th Part; Kotoko-in Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Kamakura Trip 4th Part; Forest trail of Daibutsu Hiking Course

How to go to Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Kamakura;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kita-Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. Starting point is just beside the Jochi-ji Temple, 400m away from the Kita-Kamakura train station. Trail is around 3.5km which is 1hr going to Great Buddha. There is a direct bus also coming from Kamakura train station. Admission fee is 200JPY. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

The Bronze Statue of Amita Buddha Daibutsu or Great Buddha was cast in 1252 by the sculptors of Ono-Goroemon and Tanji-Hisatomo at the request of Miss Idanonotsubone and priest Joko who not only originated to build the big statue and temple covered it but also collected donations from people for it. In 1498 a tidal wave swept away the Great Temple leaving only its foundation stones but did not injure the Buddha's body. The big earthquake in 1923 did not harm the body but destroyed its base. The seated Buddha, Amida Nyorai known the familiar name of the Kamakura Daibutsu is the principle Deity of Kotoko-in Temple which is a national treasure. The height including the pedestal is 13.4m, height of the cast is 11.3m and weighs 121 tons.

Kamakura Trip 5th Part; Kotoko-in Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

Kamakura Trip 4th Part; Forest Trail of Daibutsu Hiking Course

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Kamakura Trip 3rd Part; Kosho-ji, Tokei-ji & Jochi-ji Temples

How to go to Daibutsu Hiking Course starting point;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kita-Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. Starting point is just beside the Jochi-ji Temple, 400m away from the Kita-Kamakura train station. Trail is around 3.5km which is 1hr going to Great Buddha. No Admission fee required. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

Daibutsu Hiking Course connects Jochiji Temple in Kita-Kamakura with the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) in the west of the city. The Zeniarai Benten and the Genjiyama public park with a statue of Minamoto Yoritomo can be found underway. It takes about 60-90 minutes to complete the entire trail. 

Kamakura Trip 4th Part; Forest trail of Daibutsu Hiking Course

Kamakura Trip 3rd Part; Kosho-ji, Tokei-ji & Jochi-ji Temples

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Kamakura Trip 2nd Part; Enno-ji and Kencho-ji Temples

How to go to Jochi-ji Temple;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kita-Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. Entrance gate is 400m away from the Kita-Kamakura train station. Admission fee is 200JPY. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

Jochi-ji Temple is nested in a cypress wood, established in 1281 and considered one of the Kamakura's Five Great Zen Temples. Jochi-ji is ranked fourth among the Five Great Zem Temples, and its temple ground surrounded by rich green vegetation is designated as a national historical site. Designated as important cultural assets, the three wooden statues on the central altar represent, from left to right Nyorai "past", Amida "present" and Miroku "future". The temple is enshrined with these three Buddhas.

Kamakura Trip 3rd Part; Jochi-ji Temple

Kamakura Trip 2nd part; Enno-ji and Kencho-ji Temples

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Kamakura Trip 1st Part; Meigetsu-in and Engaku-ji Temples

How to go to Kencho-ji Temple;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kita-Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. Entrance gate is 1.5km away from the Kita-Kamakura train station. Admission fee is 300JPY. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

Kencho-ji Temple is the first ranked of the Five Great Zen Temples of Kamakura and is oldest Zen training monastery in Japan. It was constructed by order of the Emperor Gofukakusa during the regency of Hojo Tokiyori (1227-63). Work was completed in the fifth year of the Kencho Era (1253) from which the name of the temple was taken. The founder of Kencho-ji was Rankei Doryu, a Chinese Zen Master of the Sung Dynasty. He left China in 1246 to teach Zen in Japan, spending several years in Kyushu and Kyoto before coming to Kamakura to found Kencho-ji. After his death the memorial title "Daikaku Zenji" (Teacher of Great Realization) was conferred upon him by the Emperor Gouda. This was the first time in Japanese history that such a title was given to a Zen sect.

Kamakura Trip 2nd Part; Kencho-ji Temple

Kamakura Trip 1st part; Meigetsu-in and Engaku-ji Temples

6-days Revisiting Summer Japan for Mt. Fuji (3,776masl) Solo Trek
August 07-13, 2014

Mt. Fuji Solo Trek last Part; the Trail Markers

How to go to Meigetsu-in Temple;
From Tokyo, ride a train bound to Kita-Kamakura Station for almost 1.5hr travel time at 920JPY($9.29) fare fee. Entrance gate is 700m away from the Kita-Kamakura train station. Admission fee is 300JPY. Photography and video taking with monopod is permitted inside, tripod is prohibited.

Meigetsu-in Temple was founded in the year 1160 as "Meigetsu-an" (Bright Moon Hermitage) by Yamanouchi Tsunetoshi for the repose of the soul of his father Toshimichi, who died in the Battle of Heiji the previous year. Fugenzan Meigetsu-in is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Kenchō-ji school. Famous for its hydrangeas, it's also known as The Temple of Hydrangeas (ajisai-dera). The main object of worship is goddess Shō Kannon. Meigetsu-in started as Meigetsuan hermitage and was built by a military commander in the region during late Heian period. One of the Ten Wells of Kamakura is still in use on the compound. Through the round window of the temple, is a garden that brings memories of ancient times.

Kamakura Trip 1st Part; Meigutsu-in Temple