Dai Butsu: Kamakura, Yokohama

Today a rail trip to Kamakura for a visit to the Great Budda or "Dai Butsi" of Kamakura, and his many zen temples. He is a metal green GIANT, a statue sitting in lotus position atop a stone plateau measuring the size of an olympic pool. He is hollow, and I went inside his belly, taking pictures up into the cavity of his head. "Flat Stanley" joined me. He is a cut-out paper doll sent as a project by an elementary student from North Conway, New Hampshire. Adelle asked that Kristin send Flat Stanley out and about in Japan, taking pictures of him at all the favourite sites -- returning him, the photos and accompany stories for a final world report, or show and tell by the end of the month.

Speaking of photos, I found the below sites which provide a perfect briefing for you to discover the splendor and significance of this ancient, hallowed ground.
http://www.mountainbikebill.com/J-Kamakura.htm http://norman.walsh.name/2003/11/20/kamakura
http://www.japan.com/travel/cities/kamakura.php
Kamakura means "cave rock. "

There is an expansive network of paths which wrap around the sites and sweeps down to the oceanside. I walked for five hours, stopping for only brief moments at shrines, temples, and lookouts. The latter half of the day included a mountainous climb, following a slippery and muddy slope along a ridge upon a bluff overlooking Kamakura and her distant beach. I was uncertain how long the hike would take, but did find my way to Zeni Arai Benten, an ancient buddhist site which celebrates the white snake and the waters which bring abundance to those who draw water from the streams passing through the springs in this holy place. One walks through a long rock lined tunnel at the entrance of Zeni Arai. Coming to the opening, several huts encircle the walls of the narrow gorge. Several small altars are tucked around bends, accessible by foot paths of stone and gravel. Stone dragons and dogs draped in red cloth coats guard the entrances to the steps leading up to these altars. Incense burns, sweetening the air and occasional chimes sound. Claps are heard in the closing of prayers. Water trickles from the cave walls and is channeled in miniature canals. Plum and cherry blossoms have already started to bloom.
Exhausted and strangely at peace with all my senses, I left the woods and returned to the village to catch a JR train back to Kikuna.
What awaited me was a spontaneous inviation for a traditional Japanese shabu-shabu dinner out in Tokyo!
This is similar to a fondu, in that you dunk veggies and meats into pots of boiling water and/or pork broth that are atop a portable open flamed stove at the table. Once cooked to your liking, you then dip into potsu (japanese dipping sauce) and eat. Chop sticks are ideal for this. You end with dunking udon, Japanese wheat noodles into the same pots. We tried a couple of traditional warm sakes and finished green tea ice cream, and a tofu dessert that was similar to flan.
$200 for 5 people.