Month: June 2017

  • Ameya Yokocho

    Ameya Yokocho

    アメヤ横丁

    Ameya Yokocho got its start as a black market dealing in American goods following the end of the Pacific War — its name might stand for either “American Alley” or “Candy Store Alley”. It remains today a densely packed shopping district with a variety of bargain shops and al fresco restaurants.

    “Ame Yoko”, as it’s known for short, lies along the Yamanote Line tracks near Ueno station and encompasses as many as 180 shops selling everything from cheap watches and electronics, bargain fashions and variety goods to a selection of fresh seafood and dried goods. In addition, there are a number of tiny restaurants offering al fresco dining or yatai street food.

    Seafood restaurant in Ameyoko
    Seafood restaurant in Ameyoko

    A stall offering fresh seafood
    A stall offering fresh seafood

    Barkers freely mix with the crowd, lending a festive air to the shopping district. At times, visitors must pass a gauntlet of apron-clad chefs touting shish kebab.

    Ame Yoko shopkeeper touts his goods
    Ame Yoko shopkeeper touts his goods

    Those who come to Ame Yoko must be prepared to face the crowds, regardless of the time of day or the weather. (OK, we admit we haven’t been during a typhoon … ) And because the area has a reputation for bargains, a large proportion of the crowd is likely to be non-Japanese as well.

    Crowds at Ame Yoko
    Typical crowd at Ame Yoko

    Ameya Yokocho

  • Fugenzan Meigetsuin

    Fugenzan Meigetsuin

    福源山明月院

    Meigetsuin, “Bright Moon Hermitage,” is known as the Hydrangea Temple of Kamakura. The temple was originally founded in 1160 by Yamanouchi Tsunetoshi for the repose of the soul of his father, Yamanouchi Toshimichi, who died the previous year in the Battle of Heiji. It is the site of a yagura which legend holds to be Toshimichi’s resting place. Reliefs on the wall depict Shaka Nyorai, Taho Nyorai and the 16 Arhats, while the large gravestone, added 220 years later, is for Uesugi Norikata, who greatly expanded the temple under the direction of abbot Misshitsu Shugon.

    Grotto Grave
    Yagura of Meigetsuin

    Nowadays, though, the temple is known for the view of the garden from the main hall through a circular window, and for ajisai — hydrangea.

    Circular window of the main hall
    Circular window, seen from the garden

    The temple, just an hour’s train ride from Shinjuku, overflows with visitors in late May and early June as the hydrangea bloom. The line to enter the temple grounds soon backs up as far as the Kita Kamakura train station, turning the 10-minute walk into a wait of 40 minutes or longer.

    Waiting in line
    Waiting in line to view the hydrangea

    For those with the patience (and sunscreen) to wait it out, the reward eventually comes.

    HydrangeaHydrangea

    Hydrangea
    More hydrangea can be found in the neighborhood near the temple

    Hydrangea at Meigetsu-in

  • Kenchoji

    Kenchoji

    建長寺

    Kenchoji, nestled in the hills north of Kamakura, is Japan’s oldest Zen training monastery. It was founded by Chinese Zen master Rankei Doryu (Lan-hsi Tao-lung) and constructed by the order of Emperor Gofukakusa, with construction finishing in 1253 (the fifth year of the Kencho era).

    Just inside the outer gate, Somon, stands the impressive main gate, Sanmon. This gate was built in 1754 by the chief priest Bansetsu. Tradition has it that in order to repay the kindness of the Kenchoji priests, a tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) transformed itself into a monk to assist with the gate’s construction, and to this day the gate is also known as “Tanuki Mon”.

    Sanmon
    Sanmon, built with the help of a tanuki

    Along the pathway leading from Sanmon to the main hall, Butsuden, is a Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) planted more than 750 years ago by Rankei Doryu.

    Chinese juniper
    Chinese juniper, more than 750 years old

    Chinese juniper
    Chinese juniper planted by Rankei Doryu

    Butsuden — Buddha Hall

    Jizo Bosatsu
    Jizo Bosatsu

    Just past the great-grandfather juniper is the Butsuden, an Important Cultural Property. The building originally was a mausoleum belonging to the Shogunate, and was moved to its present location in 1647. The Butsuden houses a large wooden statue of Jizo Bosatsu (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) — a rarity for Zen temples — as well as other Buddhist statues.

    Hatto — Dharma Hall

    Continuing past the Butsuden, we come to the Hatto hall, the largest wooden Buddhist structure in eastern Japan. The ceiling of this hall for public ceremonies is adorned with a vast painting of a dragon, Unryu-zu, created in 2003 by Koizumi Junsaku to mark the 750th anniversary of Kenchoji.

    Unryu-zu
    Unryu-zu, by Koizumi Junsaku

    Off to one side of the Hatto is the Karamon gate, another Important Cultural Property which, like the Hatto, was moved to its present location from Zozoji in Tokyo. As its name indicates, it displays the distinctive undulating bargeboard which became popular during the Heian period. Such gates were reserved for the use of the Shogun or for visits from the Emperor.

    Karamon
    Karamon

    Karamon (detail)
    Karamon (detail)

    Kenchoji 「建長寺」