June 30 - Ofuna and Enoshima
PLEASE NOTE: I have not had the chance to watermark all of my photos, and it will take me a great deal of time, as I published this and my other blogs between 2010-2017. I ask you to respect my property. Feel free to use them as long as you credit me as follows: Photo by Jody McBrien, learningtheworld.org. Thank you.
Today was rainy. We began by walking up the steep hill just across from our hotel to the Ofuna Kannon, Goddess of Mercy. Right as we got to the path, a large crowd of school children arrived, so we let them go ahead. We knew their young energy would get them up the hill faster than we would go!
The Kannon is an 80 foot, 1900 ton concrete statue that was begun in the 1920s but not completed until 1960 due to WW II. The statue includes stone from ground zero of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate those who died there. Inside the temple is a place to pray and a notebook to write your wishes.
Today was rainy. We began by walking up the steep hill just across from our hotel to the Ofuna Kannon, Goddess of Mercy. Right as we got to the path, a large crowd of school children arrived, so we let them go ahead. We knew their young energy would get them up the hill faster than we would go!
The Kannon is an 80 foot, 1900 ton concrete statue that was begun in the 1920s but not completed until 1960 due to WW II. The statue includes stone from ground zero of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to commemorate those who died there. Inside the temple is a place to pray and a notebook to write your wishes.
Next, we took a monorail to Enoshima. Dick had never been on a monorail before, ad he was quite taken with it.
Apartment parking we viewed from the monorail
The monorail
Our destination was Enoshima, a small island that has beaches, a shrine complex, observation tower, gardens, and caves. We first walked from the mainland and over a bridge to reach the island. We bought the deal that included escalators up the small mountain, a garden pass, trip up the "Sea Candle" observation tower (looks a lot like the NY Niagara Fall Observation Tower). Our pass included the caves, but we were getting tired of the rain, so we skipped that site. Still, the 1000 yen was a good deal, and we enjoyed all the sites.
Pedestrian bridge to the island
A friendly bridge guardian
On the island
Looks like a yellowtail enjoying some nectar
the Sea Candle Observation Tower. On good days, you can see Fuji from it. Not this day.
Rest spot in the gardens
Views from the Sea Candle
Walkway view of the cliffs
Shopping street on the island
Peacock statue on the island
After a few hours in Enoshima, we were ready to head back to our Soka University apartment and settle in for a quiet weekend! Next, and final, trip: Okinawa, July 11-16
NOTE: June 2018 date on post is republish date, not date of the event.
NOTE: June 2018 date on post is republish date, not date of the event.
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