Kamakura Collages

One of the places we visited when our family was here is Kamakura. This city is about 1 hour north of Tokyo, and is filled with history and natural beauty. There are over 65 temples and 19 shrines here, and we only visited two of them throughout our day in Kamakura. The first temple we visited was a large Zen Buddhist complex Engakuji Temple. As we wandered around the grounds, there were several monks wandering from one building to the next proving that this temple was still very active. All of the buildings in this complex had such clean lines that blended smoothly with the natural lines of the surrounding trees, caves, hills, and foliage. The second temple we visited is called Hokokuji Temple, and is much smaller in area than the first. But every square inch of the temple grounds is meticulously planned out. It seems that every rock, plant, or stone sculpture blends seamlessly into the garden’s calming ascetic. Behind the main temple is a beautiful garden full of large bamboo plants, gently swaying in the wind far above us.

After we visited these two temples, we walked down the main street to the ocean. It was very windy, which was perfect for the dozens of wind-surfers out in the bay. It felt good to feel the salty ocean breeze after so many stuffy and hot days in Tokyo—nothing beats the cool grandeur of the roaring pacific.