Erin and our friend Tim
at Mount Nokogiri in
Chiba Prefecture.
at Mount Nokogiri in
Chiba Prefecture.
STRANDED IN JAPAN
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Last Update: November 13, 2007
We are having a fantastic time in Japan... I told Dwayne the other day
that I could live here forever if it weren't for missing my house back home
and of course our friends and family.
So, kids...head for the girls' page using the approriate tab above..and
adults, grab a choo-hi or some osake (see Dwayne and Allie's tab for
recipes) and prepare to be impressed, surpised, mystified, and somewhat
confused....pretty much like how we feel everyday here in Japan.
We are having a fantastic time in Japan... I told Dwayne the other day
that I could live here forever if it weren't for missing my house back home
and of course our friends and family.
So, kids...head for the girls' page using the approriate tab above..and
adults, grab a choo-hi or some osake (see Dwayne and Allie's tab for
recipes) and prepare to be impressed, surpised, mystified, and somewhat
confused....pretty much like how we feel everyday here in Japan.
- The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue
of Amida Buddha that is located on the grounds of
the Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35
meters, it is the second largest 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. You can still
see the 12 ft diameter foundation stones of this
lost structure.
Jufukuji Temple
Founded by the priest who
introduced Zen Buddhism into
Japan, this temple was built in
1180, and is ranked third of the
city’s five most powerful
temples.
Jochiji Temple
this temple houses a wooden
and skirts and one of seated
Buddha with sleeves
Kamakura's ten famous wells.
and skirts and one of
Kamakura's ten famous wells.
Liesl hanging out with Big Buddah
Daibutsu
Daibutsu
| Kamakura Festival: April12-14, 2007 In April, We spent a day with Dwayne's parents at the Kamakura Festival. This is an annual event that celebrates the history of Kamakura and draws mobs of people from all over Japan and the world. The highlight of the festival is called " YABUSAME", an an arrow-shooting contest on horseback in full Samurai armor. It is staged to re-enactment an ancient Samurai battle practice technique wherein Samurais competed with one another to see who could shoot with the most accuracy and do so riding at top speed. Targets are placed at intervals along the course, at about 8 feet in height. htese targets begin as simple bull's-eye style targets and progress (in subsequent shooting rounds) to clay disks hung on a straw background. As in everything, there is quite a bit of ceremony involved with this display: |
KAMAKURA: ancient capital of Japan
We live on the Miura Penninsula, south of Yokohama on the island of
Honshu. Kamakura is about 30 minutes from us and was the capital of
Japan in about 700 AD. By 150 AD, Kamakura was the 4th largest
city in the world, with 200,000 people, and Japan's largest, eclipsing
Kyoto by 1200 A.D. It is now known mainly for its temples and
shirines, especially the Great Buddha.
We live on the Miura Penninsula, south of Yokohama on the island of
Honshu. Kamakura is about 30 minutes from us and was the capital of
Japan in about 700 AD. By 150 AD, Kamakura was the 4th largest
city in the world, with 200,000 people, and Japan's largest, eclipsing
Kyoto by 1200 A.D. It is now known mainly for its temples and
shirines, especially the Great Buddha.
2007 Navy Ball
Yeah, I know this is
not the optimal
place for these type
of pictures but what
the heck! Here they
are anyway.
Yeah, I know this is
not the optimal
place for these type
of pictures but what
the heck! Here they
are anyway.
