Autumn in Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu) is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan (the largest is located in the Todaiji Temple in Nara).

The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were washed away by a tsunami tidal wave in the end of the 15th century, and since then the Buddha stands in the open air. — from The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The garden at the Kotokuin monastery

View of the sunset on Enoshima island

Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Jinja Shrine

The first year of the Bunji era (1185) was the year of the Snake. In this year, on the day of the snake, in the month of the snake, Minamoto Yoritomo had a dream in which the god, Ugafukujin, delivered a divine message. He was told: “In the valley to the northwest, there is a miraculous spring that gushes out of the rocks. Go there and worship the gods of Shinto, and peace will come to the people.”

He found the spring as it had been described, and immediately enshrine Ugafukujin. So it is said that the shrine was established, with the spring water being used in Shinto memorial services.

It is believed that if you spend money that has been washed in the spring water, it will increase many times and come back to you. — From the plaque at the entrance tunnel to the shrine

The water of the spring inside the cave is supposed to have the power to multiply the money it comes in contact with. This unique tradition of coming to wash your coins began in 1257 when Hojo Tokiyori came here and washed his coins with the spring water, expressing the hope that they may be doubled. People heard the story, and the tradition was born. — Wikipedia

Gokuraku-ji Temple

The origins of the Japanese social security can be traced to the charitable works of the Buddhist saint Ninsho.

Genjiyama Park

There is a legend that the Genji warrior Hachiman Taro Yoshiie set up a white flag on top of the mountain, praying for victory. This is the origin of the name Genji-yama, also called Shirahata (white flag)-yama (mountain). — Genjiyama Park website

Cultural Map of Kamakura

• The History of Kamakura
• The Official Website of the City of Kamakura