Today we invited a few friends to come along,... while we searched out the
"Ōfuna Kannon".
It was kind of last minute, but it turned out to be fun!
Lucky us, a Beautiful day to boot!
Here is the link to learn more about this Buddist Temple.
--->HERE<---
This past Saturday the family headed out to Kamakura. We wanted to view the Sakura, or Cherry Blossom's before the wind and rain took them away. The weather has not been ideal for any sort of outdoor activities, but Saturday afternoon the sun decided to come out, for a few hours.
Please enjoy this slide show of the Afternoon.
We took the train (2nd time for Ava), we Viewed the Tree's and checked out Hachiman Shrine & ate goodies from food stands & then had Ice cream!
(Green tea and Sweet Potato flavored. I had Baked sweet potato and it was SO Tasty!)
Here is the link to the Slideshow if you get this blog via e-mail
----->LINK<------
Dankazura is a walkway in Kamakura leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
During this time of year, Cherry Blossom Season... this walkway is Just Amazingly Beautiful!
If you live close by, like i do... here in IKEGO/Zushi or Yokosuka ... i hope i can persuade you to visit within the week.
How to get to Kamakura Station from Yokosuka by train:
Turn right after going through the main gate. Stay on the right side of the road. Pass Daiei mall through pedestrian over bridge. You will walk along a seaside park and come to the city bus terminal and JR YOKOSUKA STATION (approximately a 15 minute walk). Buy a ¥210 ticket (or 420 round trip ticket) to Kamakura. It is a twenty-minute train ride from JR Yokosuka Station (It's pretty fast, no worries).
From Ikego:
Go to JIMMUJI Station and buy a ¥130 ticket to SHIN ZUSHI Station (or Y260 round trip)ticket. Walk a few minutes to JR Zushi Station, buy a ¥ 150 ticket(or Y300 ticket round trip) to Kamakura.
Remember Kids 0~6 travel FREE on trains in Japan, as long as there is an 1/1 ratio Adult/Child. :)
7~12 Travel for 1/2 price.
Take Advantage!
We went for Yozakura, or Night Viewing. 'We' as in: 4 of Us & Kath and Tim.
It was fun, and crazy, as it was late, and Evan and Olivia were very tired... and were practically falling asleep at dinner.
-------------> PICTURES!
FYI: I have to give ETHAN Credit for many of the photo's in this post. Evan was being 'Evan' and i had to 'deal' with him during part of the visit. Ethan had a Great time, going off taking photo's.... and i think, in the future... he will be taking more for me! ;) He is amazing!
Walking down the Dankazura... the reason the people are blurry and the Cherry Tree's are not is because the camera was on a 10 second shutter.
When there is a lot movement ... the image almost disapears (as with a few photo's in this post).
Everything that is Still... remain.
EVAN!
Lantern's lead the way...
Evan (being good ... for once!)
Sake Offerings @ Hachiman shrine.
It was Very Beautiful, and much more relaxing visiting the shrine at night!!
...I will call this the ...'Wedding House"
Hachiman Shrine
CAN YOU SEE THE TORII GATE THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE MIDDLE? AMAZING PHOTO!!!!! ----->
Looking at the 2nd Torii Gate from inside the Shrine... and the Dankazura off to the right as well! ----->
Tim & Kath ... what a NICE photo! (Evan is thanked for making Kath's black attire 'dusty'. He was 'crazy' that night, and thats being 'nice'.
Here is the best family photo we got.
Notice that Evan's head is missing. (LMAO!)
This is because he would not stop moving. So, with his movement... he disapeared! I mean... come on Evan, it's only 10 seconds! Oh Well!
After we were done, we all headed back to Shinzushi and decided to take dinner at a local restauraunt. I dont know the name... so i will call it 'Gyoza Heaven'.
LOL!!!
It was VERY good, and SUPER filling for a Cheap Price.
We all (6) ate for 3200Y i think.
My BIG Bowl (seen here, far right of the table)... and one plate of Gyoza... was 600Y!
The only thing i did not like, was they Squished us 6 people into 2 SMALL Tables.
Other than that... GREAT Dinner & Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing).
I hope you enjoyed!
Last Saturday the kids and I went to Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura for the day. Ethan was on a hike with the Boy Scouts and so we took advantage of the time to have a bit of Mommy Fun Time.
At Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, there is a Most Beautiful Cherry Blossom Walkway. When in full bloom... it's breathtaking. I have never seen it in person, only in photos.
I wanted to make sure the kids and I did not miss the chance to see the 1st Blooms, and possibly a few early trees.
The Slideshow below is a bunch of photo's of the Torii Gate/Shrine/Grounds and a few Early Cherry Blooms!
I have many more photo's to share from the day... but that will be in Part 2.
If you want to view the slideshow larger, feel free to click the slideshow.
If you are recieving this via e-mail, you may have to view the slideshow
----> HERE <----
Last Saturday the kids and i went to Kamakura to Hachiman Shrine for the day. We were mostly going to view new/baby Cherry Blossoms... but only saw a few. We still had fun, and Olivia really enjoyed herself. Evan on the other hand was a whole story ... but we wont go there! ;)
The photo's will show, we had an enjoyable time... looking/walking and ... as always Eating!
Please Enjoy!
2nd Torii Gate
Cherry Blossom Baby's
Olivia, taking a load off ... on the "Walk of Cherry Trees".
I spy a Cherry Blossom Tree Already Blooming.
It was pretty much the only on that had more than "A" flower on it.
There were many people and Camera's and even a TV Camera Swarming the area.
So, we did not go and get a 'close-up'.
We saw 2 Shinto Weddings while at Kamakura that day.
This one was over, and they were leaving the shrine.
A Nice View of Hachiman Shrine, Kamakura Japan!
Getting ready for Wedding #2
Wedding #2
Front Row "Seats!".
I was not (by any means) the only person Viewing the Wedding.
It's almost "open" to the public.
There were at least 100 other's viewing as well.
The kids and I were lucky to get this view.
Cameras were going off EVERYWHERE!
For whatever reason,... Squirrels are Rare in this area.
They are also "Good luck" a Japanese Older Woman told me.
This squirrel was ALL over the kids!
Everyone was snapping "phone" photos... ;)
The kids and i walked ALL over the grounds...
Looking around, and just exploring/having fun!
Although, i did learn the correct way to "pray" and visit the Shrine during my New Years Visit to Hachiman w/ the Japanese American Society (i also remembered a bit from visiting a few in Sasebo)...
I did not take the children inside.
We took a sit down in a nice shaded area (where others were sitting too) and ...
Had a 'lesson' on how the Japanese Pray and how we don't pray like them.
BUT, that it IS ok for them, and how we don't judge.
Olivia was very interested and asked a lot of Questions.
We took a little walk up to visit another area of the shrine.
I just adore this photo...
(If you visit the blog, those of you who get this via e-mail.... you'll see a version of this photo is my New Blog Header!)
This tree is over 1,000 yrs old!
These Sake Barrels are Gifts from Big Company's to the Shrine/Gods.
They cost in the Hundreds of Yens!
(the kids were chasing bubbles, btw.)
On our way out of the Shrine, we stopped at a few Vendors.
This vendor had the most delish Candied Strawberries on a Ritz Cracker covered in Sprinkles!
Odd, but GOOD!
As Always (with my kids....)
Yakitori Sticks!
They LOVE them!
Evan Olivia, who had decided she is NOT a vegan anymore! LOL
As we walk out, another view of the 1 tree... So Pretty!
We tried to walk through the shopping street of Kamakura. It was PACKED and WOW!
So, we stopped off and had a few Ice Cream cones.
for 300Y pp, i think ...we each got a cone. O got Vanilla and E & I got Coffee! mmmmm
This is the ONE shot i got... WOW! Me & 2 kids? NOT FUN!
So, we book'd it to the station and headed home!
Oh, and now that Olivia is 7 we buy her ticket.
She pays 1/2 price... and she just loves having her own ticket.
I need to head over to the Train Station and get her a Suica Card.
I always forget to bring her Passport! If/when i do...
They will print her name on the Sucia Card, and she will always pay 1/2 price Automatically!
So... maybe i should do that soon!
This photo is to show...
Olivia is saying "we are home"!!!!!
So, i guess this means we have 'moved in'!
We are at the Shin-Zushi Station in this photo.
That "Were home" while standing in ShinZushi made my day!
I hope yo enjoyed the photos! ;)
