KCP spring trip to Kamakura
from Tanaka-san
We went to Kamakura this weekend (4/23, 4/24) with our spring students, so I would like to share some photos.
Kamakura, a city in Kanagawa prefecture, is fairly close to Tokyo and has plenty of historical and architectural interest. It is full of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, and it also has a great beach.
We’re at Hase-dera (Hase Temple), about to enter a cave. The rain on Saturday and the sunshine on Sunday really ramped up the trees!
Inside Benten-Kutsu (a cave that commemorates the Benzaiten goddess) in Hase-dera. It is narrow, with low ceilings, so the tall U.S. students need to crouch down.
In front of Kamakura Daibutsu (the Great Buddha statue in Kamakura). Students said that they saw many American tourists on-site and they are happy for that.
Obamaccha ice cream. Interesting flavors.
Ice cream shops in the Hase area that sell Maccha green tea ice cream call the ice cream flavor “Obamaccha,” since President Obama visited Kamakura and enjoyed the ice cream. Green tea? Sweet potato? Some careful tasing going on.
Gathering his nerve before trying the green tea and vanilla. Obamaccha ice
cream . . . probably Mr. Obama did not imagine this coming.
Sunday’s Enoshima island. Up the hill is the shrine; there is a long line of people waiting to pray.
Very, very crowded, with lots of tourists. It was fine weather, so no wonder.