Monthly Archives: August 2012

26th February: Nikko – Tamozawa Imperial Villa

Posted on August 23, 2012 by

I still had an hour or two left of daylight and visited the Tamozawa Imperial Villa, not far from where I was staying.  Fortunately, hand-held photography was allowed inside. The villa was originally an Edo residence of the Tokugawa family, who … Continue reading →

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26th February: Nikko – Jokoji Temple Cemetery

Posted on August 16, 2012 by

In the morning I headed off for Nikko from Tokyo, via the superb Japanese train service. Arriving at Nikko, I dropped my luggage off at the ryokan and took off for a walk in the remaining hours of the afternoon.  … Continue reading →

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25th February: Kamakura – Diabutsu

Posted on August 12, 2012 by

The Diabutsu or Giant Buddha of Kamakura is over thirteen metres tall, weighs 93 tonnes and was cast in bronze in 1252.  It is located inside the Kotokuin Temple, which belongs to the Jodo or Pure Land sect of Buddhism.  … Continue reading →

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25th February: Kamakura – Hase-Dera

Posted on August 9, 2012 by

From Kitakamakura, we took a couple of trains through Kamakura to Hase, heading for the Hase-Dera Temple.  Here are a couple of the colourful roadside shops in Hase. Here is a curious historical footnote, just at the side of the … Continue reading →

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25th February: Kamakura – Tokeiji

Posted on August 5, 2012 by

Next we visited Tokeiji, Japan’s first and probably the World’s first women’s refuge, just across the road from Engaku-Ji at Kitakameruka. Kakusan, wife of Hojo Tokimune, the eighth Kameruka era regent founded Engaku-Ji in 1285 as a Rinzai Zen nunnery.  … Continue reading →

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25th February: Kamakura – Engaku-Ji

Posted on August 4, 2012 by

After returning from Hokkaido, I had a free day in Tokyo.  This was mainly to allow a bit of leeway in case there were any problems with the return flight from Hokkaido.  Rather than spending it in Tokyo, though, I … Continue reading →

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