Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
80
Take the old-fashioned JR Enoden Line from Kamak-
ura Station to Hase Station.
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Hase Kannon Temple
The founding of this Buddhist temple, on
a hill with views of the sea, is shrouded in
myth. In a.d. 721, a priest supposedly
carved two statues of the 11-headed god-
dess of mercy from a single camphor
trunk. One of the statues was enshrined in
a temple near Nara (another ancient capi-
tal), while the other was thrown into the
sea. It turned up in Hase 16 years later,
prompting the construction of this tem-
ple. More than 9m (30 ft.) high, the gilded
statue is the tallest wooden image in Japan.
On the stairway to the temple are hun-
dreds of likenesses of Jizo, the guardian
deity of children, donated by those griev-
ing over miscarried, stillborn, or aborted
children. See p. 272.
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Great Buddha
This is Kamakura's top attraction, and
with good reason. Measuring 11m (36 ft.)
high and weighing 93 tons, it was cast in
1252 and was once enclosed in a huge hall
washed away by a tidal wave. Set against a
dramatic background of rising wooded
hills, it ranks second in size after Japan's
tallest bronze Buddha in Nara, but this
one with its outdoor setting is much more
impressive. See p. 272.
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RAITEI
There's no finer conclusion to a trip to
Kamakura than a meal at this traditional
restaurant, situated among rolling hills on
the outskirts of the city. You can dine on
inexpensive noodles and obento lunch-
boxes or splurge on
kaiseki.
In any case,
be sure to wander the verdant grounds of
the restaurant after your meal. Located at
Takasago (
&
0467/32-5656
). See p. 274.
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HASE KANNON TEMPLE
Sit with a drink and enjoy the sweeping
views toward the sea on the small open-
air pavilion. Next to the pavilion is a res-
taurant,
Kaikoan,
serving noodles, other
simple fare, and drinks. Located at 3-11-2
Hase (
&
0467/22-6300
). See p. 273.
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