Kamakura Adventure (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Hasedera and Kotoku-in Temple)

Nate: Knock, Knock!

Jonat: Who’s There?

Nate: Kamakura!

Jonat: Kamakura who?

Nate (sing):

Kama, Kama, Kama, Kama, Kamakura,

You come and go, you come and go.

Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams:

Red, gold, and green, red gold and green.

 

haha. Ayos ba ang introduction? Napakanta ba kayo?

Tara Halina’t buksan natin ang natatagong Likas na Ganda ng Kamakura Kanagawa Prefecture.

First of all, I wanted to thank Machida-san. He was a Japanese Photographer that I met in the train who gave me some tips for the great temples here in Kamakura.

Thank You Sir!

Ang unang biktima ng pag invade ko sa mga Temples dito ay ang Tsuragaoka Hachimangu.

 

Tsuragaoka Hachimangu

Bukuna palang ay Maganda na!

Excited kong hinakbang ang aking mga Paa papasok.

Makikita mo sa may bungad ang mga Japanese Store. Medyo  kakaiba ang mga tinitinda nila katulad ng Ubas at Apple na nakatusok sa stick.

Sa bukana din makikita ang isang mini fountain kung saan pwede kang maghugas ng kamay. Hindi ko lang sure kung pede rin inumin.

At dito na unti-unting nag unfold ang likas na Ganda ng Tsurugaoka Temples.

Lumulundag  ang puso ko habang binabaybay ang hagdanan patungo sa Main Temple.

Sa  loob ng Temple, makikita mo ang mga Japanese na naghuhulog ng Coins at nagprapray to their Gods.

Are you curious how Japanese worship at shrine or temples?

Here’s how they do it:

1. When you visit a shrine or a temple, first clean your hands and rinse your mouth at the purification fountain at the side of the path or near the entrance.
2. When you reach in front of the alter, gently throw a coin into the offertory box installed.
3. If there is a bell or gong attached by rope, pull on that rope to ring it.
4. At  a shrine – Make two bows to the God and clap your hands twice. Then pray with your hands together. at the end, make a deep bow again.
5. At a Temple – Make a deep bow and pray with your hands together Make sure that you don not clap your hands like the way of shrine worship.

Just respect their culture while you are inside the Temples. Be Silent! and Let them feel the serenity of their Temples and Shrines.

Pagkatapos pagmasdan ang kaaya-ayang Temples ng Tsurugaoka, ako’y nagpatuloy na sa aking paglilibot.

Noong nakaramdam ako ng gutom, Ako’y naghanap ng place kung saan pedeng magpahinga at kumain. And Luckily I found a store near the Ponds where the Doves were happily playing with the visitors.

Astig talaga sa Japan dahil malayang nakakalipad ang mga Ibon katulad ng Kalapati at Uwak.

Malimit ka ring makakakita ng mga Omikuji  (random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples)

Siyempre hindi ko na pinalagpas tanongin ang mga nagtatali ng papel tungkol sa mga prayers and wishes nila.

Nacurious din ako sa mga Japanese na napasok sa isang shrine, tapos babasbasan sila ng Isang Priest gamit ang isang Sanga na puno ng dahon.

According to the Japanese, This is one of their Waiting Ceremony. But this kind of ceremony is Holy because they wait at the front of their Gods. After the Ceremony, All of them shall drink their Sake.

Eto yung isang scene na hindi ko alam kung bakit may custome ang mga Japanese and foreigner na parang Martial Artist. Medyo natakot kasi ako mag tanong baka sipain nila ako. haha

Upon hearing a Gong, I begun to left this magnificent Temples.

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Marami kang matatagpuan na mga Japanese Items sa Kamakura Street.  Kahit ako ay naaliw sa mga matitingkad na kulay at mga bagay na sa Kamakura mo lang mabibili.

Ang tindahan na ito ang pinaka favorite ko. Free Taste kasi lahat ng mga Item nila. Kaya nilubos kong tikman lahat ng kanilang paninda.

Masarap! Kaya di ako nag atubili na bumili ng ilan sa masasarap nilang Mameya.

“Kamakura MAMEYA provides healthy bean snacks. You can find your favorite from various kinds of beans and nuts with different flavors. Your choice is from soybeans, borad beans, peanuts, walnuts and more! You’ll enjoy delicious Harmonies of beans and natural flavors. – Kamakura Mameya Hase Main Shop

Ang ilan sa mga flavor nila ay:

1. Maccha (color green)
2. Mayonaise-P
3. Kinako-Mame
4. Koiso-P
5. Soraname Curry
6. Norimaki-Mame
7. Ika-P
8. Ume-mame
9. Ebi-mame

For me ang masrap ay ang Macha (Color Green), Kinako-Mame (Color White),  Wasabi Mame (Panda Color) and Mayonaise-P.

Hindi rin naman sila papahuli sa masasarap na Street Foods! Name what you like!

 

Kotoku-in Temple (GreatBuddha “Daibutsu”)

Ang sunod kong pinuntahan ay ang  Kotoku-in Temple. Ito ang pinaka Sikat na Tourist Spot sa Kamakura dahil dito matatagpuan ang 750 years old Daibutsu Buddha..

It is a colossal coper image o Amida-butsu (Amitabha Buddha), is the principle image of Kotoku-in. The fact that it sits in the open air makes it unusual amongst large Buddha statues in Japan. The Great Buddha designated as a National Treasure by the Japanese government, is about 11.3 meters tall and weighs around 121 tons. Though in size it falls short of the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Temple at Nara, it essentially retains its original form; as suct it is an invaluable example of Japanese historical Buddhist art.  today, 750 years after its construction, vast numbers of Buddhist of all sects from around the world and Japan come to pay their respects to the Great Buddha.” – http://www.kotoku-in.jp

20 minutes din ang nilakad ko from Kamakura Station para lang bisitahin ang Temple na ito.

The Best View is yet to come!

This is the first time that I’ve seen a Large Sculpture of a Buddha. Kaya sobrang namangha ako!

Xempre having a photo with this historic figure of Japan is a dream come true.

Naalala ko tuloy ang biruan namin ni Hasegawa-boy.

Jonat: Wow! You have a new haircut!

Hasegawa: Yes! It’s very hot.

Jonat: You look like a Kamakura Buddha! hahaha

Nagpahinga ako dito at inenjoy ang bawat minuto ng napaka aliwalas na Panahong gumagabay sa akin.

 

Hasedera Temple

Last but not the Least! Sabi nga ng iba, Save the best for the Last!

No words I can describe how beautiful this Temple is.

Medyo mataas na lugar ang kinalalagyan ng Hasedera kaya kelangan mo munang maghirap sa pag akyat ng mga hagdan.

Nakakakilig na makita ang ilang Old Couple that is praying together. It’s the sweetest thing you’ll ever imagine.

Sa tuktok ng burol makikita ang Main Temple ng Hasedera. Malaki ito at kaaya-aya.

Dito mo talaga makikita ang Artistic Ways of Japanese’s Builders.

Pagkapasok mo sa loob, Sasalubungin ka ng Golden Buddha kung saan makikita mo sa harapan ang mga Japanese na nagdadasal.

Just observe them quietly.

Sa labas naman makikita ang ilang mga rebulto. I really don’t know what this Sculptures portray. I just look it and feel it presence.

Makikita mo rin sa kanang bahagi ng temple ang isang Mani-Guruma

“Cylindrical Object are called “Mani Guruma” and sutras are kept inside. If you turn it, you can earn the same merit as from reading all the sutras.”

Pagkatapos paikot-ikotin ang Mani Guruma, Nilakbay ko naman ang daan na ito para makita ang overview ng Kamakura Prefecture.

The view at the summit is spectacular.

Parang umakyat na rin ako ng Bundok. Pede ko naman ito i-count as a Hike. Diba? hehe

Pagkatapos bumaba ay nagpahinga ako sa Viewing Deck kung saan may nagtitinda ng mga pagkain.

Ako lang ata ang walang kausap noong time na yun. Minsan nalulungkot ako. Pero I have to endure this Pain. Alam ko naman God is just planning one amazing Travel Buddy! Sino ka man! ahaha Show yourself! Ngaun na!

Bago ko lisanin ang Hasedera, Nilibot ko rin ang mga nag gagandahang garden na makikita dito.

Sa may sulok naman ng Burol makikita ang isang mini cave kung saan maraming naka display na maliliit na Buddha..

Taimtim pa rin ang pagdadasal ng mga Japanese sa Bawat Buddha na nandun. Kaya be sure na huwag magpipicture ng may Flash. Respect!

Thank you Lord forgiving me this Once in a Lifetime Japan’s Exploration. You let me experience How the Japanese worshiped. You let me see all those fascinating Temples. You let me captive to the alluring Art of Kamakura. And Yes, You let me be who I am today!

I have a lot of great memories here in Japan but I can’t imagine anything more exciting than the life waiting when I go home to Philippines.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

I  wrapped up my Kamakura Adventure while looking to the vast Ocean. while,

The wind sings with Joy.

The Waves beats in Harmony.

And The Sun sets with everlasting Grace.

 

Other Sightseeing in Kamakura:

Enoshima Island

 

Expenses:

Kotoku-in Temple

Entrance Fee: 200 Yen

Hasedera Temple:

Entrance Fee: 400 Yen

 

How to go Kamakura:

From Kawasaki or Tokyo:

Ride a Train in Tokaido Line Going to Ofuna then Transfer to Yokosuka Line going to Kamakura Station. (650 Yen)