Kita Kamakura

We started our day at Yokosuka train station at about 11:30.

We took the train to Kita Kamakura which was about a 20-30 minute ride.

Kita Kamakura, (kita meaning, north) is a tranquil area of wooded gullies which includes three of Kamakura's "five great" Zen temples: Kencho-ji, Enjaku-ji and Jochi-ji.

This is the San-mon, the main gate. It is made of wood and held together without nails. It was built in 1783 by priest Daiyu Kokushi.

Behind Caleb is the Butsuden, (buddha hall or Worship temple). Inside contains the following image of the Buddha.

I'm sure that what we were seeing is much more important than what we understood, but either way it was very interesting to experience. We saw men practicing Zen, and keepers who cleaned the entire area that was impossed by tourists directly after something was touched, and an older gentlemen, maybe a monk or a practicing monk (we think) came up to Riley and rubbed his head in several circular motions while repeating words (we think a blessing, maybe).

After we left Kita Kamakura, we stopped at Kamakura to eat a late lunch and walk through the local shops and markets. We got home at around 6:30 and ended the day with sushi and fresh fruit we brought home from the market. It was a great day!