Hase-dera Temple

The first stop on our trip to Kamakura was to the Hase-dera Buddhist temple. At the train station were a bunch of kids on a field trip (they wore the matching hats!). We decided that they might be going to the Big Buddha and we decided to follow their group. Turns out they were headed to the Hase-dera Temple instead. We decided it would be worthwhile to visit it since it was right there, paid 300 yen a piece, and went in. Our first sights were of a large garden with ponds and walkways for you to explore.Also here is a station to wash your hands with holy water.

At the temple is a large statue (9.8 m tall) carved from the same piece of wood of the goddess of mercy, Kannon, who has eleven heads. There are boxes inside with slats on the top and people would throw yen into the boxes before praying to the goddess. Also, people would not step on the door frames, they would walk up to it and then step over.

Around the temple was a restaurant, a flower vendor, and a couple statues. Everything here is decorated with flowers and bamboo trees. There is a trail called Prosperity Road that continues up the mountain to a small clearing where we could see mountains, the city, and the bay. It was a spectacular view!