Installment 2: Kamakura Hiking

So on Friday, Stacey and Jeremy and I (Ryan was working) went to Makurahi (a short train ride away) and had tea in a small garden. Normally when we have tea, the serving lady (usually just one person working) doesn't speak much since we're foreigners. But this time a different woman served us tea and, upon discovering I understood some of what she said, proceded to explain the bowls and meanings of the flowers painted on them as well as the tea and the sweet that goes with it (all spring themed this time of year). We were even priviledged to step outside the tea house and onto the lawn (no one is technically allowed out there) and Jeremy took a picture of Stacey and I and our new friend. Unfortunately, I forgot our digital camera >_< Those crazy Sparks have the picture on their SLR Camera.



Saturday we took the train 2 hours to Kamakura. The we got on a local line which is famous for it's intimate trail through neighborhoods (it's almost possible to touch the houses through the windows on either side of the train). Ryan couldn't help taking a pictures of some really happy and cute little kids.













On the way to the Great Buddah (the biggest bronze one in Japan) we stopped to have some purple potato ice cream and koroke (like a big has brown). I like the face that Stacey's making after she's tried Jeremy's ice cream.


















Then we walked into the area that hold the Great Buddah, in the top left you can see some leftover plum blossoms, the fading of which represents the arrival of sakura (cherry blossom) season.













Then we hiked the trail from the Great Buddah.


And stopped at Tokeji Temple. It's famous for being the first all-women temple. It's considered to be one of the oldest battered wives sanctuaries in the world. If a woman was running from her home at night, she could throw one shoe over the gate of the temple complex before she was caught, she was recognized as being under sanctuary of the temple. It's mostly famous now for it's gardens. The Sakura were blooming almost fully one some of these trees.



Next is of Ryan's favorites: Engakuji. It's a very large complex with a huge gate and a steep hill to climb with an open air tea cafe and a view of the hillside at the top. The train tracks actually cross through the temple grounds, the previous entrance was probably where Ryan was standing as he took the picture to the left. Now it's been moved to the other side of the tracks.



This is a gate at Engakuji which we love for the beautiful carvings.


A close up of one of the panels on the gate. Ryan had posted this same image a few months ago on his blog as well.



We stopped at En'noji to see "the scariest demon in Kamakura;" I can't help but always feel they're kinda cute and funny looking.


Our walk is almost finished as we got to the freshly painted Hachimangu shrine. Ryan got this charming shot of the guard looking away. We just really like the expression on his face.




After that we ate and rode the train to Harajuku. I will write about our time there tomorrowish ^_^.