Kamakura Day Trip with an Old Classmate / 幼馴染と鎌倉日帰り旅行

At the beginning of October last year, one of my oldest and dearest friend was coming to Japan with her husband, along with her brother and his wife. I had acted on their behalf as an interpreter so they could communicate with their relatives. They would only be in Tokyo for a day or two before heading to Kyushu where their relatives live. One of their goals was to see the Great Buddha in Kamakura and I offered to be their guide. My wife and I had just gone to Kamakura a week or two before but I never get tired of going to Kamakura. Such a beautiful place with lots to see.

去年の１０月の上旬、アメリカから僕の幼馴染とその子の旦那とお兄さん夫妻が日本に来ることになった。僕は彼女の為に、九州に居る親戚と通訳してあげた。彼女のお母さんは日本人ですが、彼女と彼女の兄は日本語が喋られません。東京滞在は短いですが、一日は鎌倉に行きたいと言い、僕が彼らのガイドしてあげた。丁度２週間前妻と鎌倉に行ったばっかりですが、鎌倉は何回行っても飽きない。もちろん最初に目指すのは鎌倉大仏がある高徳院。

Our first stop was to Kotoku-in where the Great Buddha is located.

最初の目的地は高徳院。

Great Buddha at Kamakura / 鎌倉大仏

My friend's name is Emily. We have known each other since the 6th grade. She was my first love, even back then much to her annoyance. However, we still remain friends to this day after some 40 years.

彼女の名前はエミリ。私たちが出会ったのは小学校６年生の頃。実は彼女が僕の初恋の人。彼女もそれを知ってたけど当時は相手してくれなかった。ま、４０年も過ぎて、まだ友達ですからなんとも言えない。

Those slipper are taller than Emily!

あの草履が彼女よりでっかい！

Construction explanation / 胎内の説明

I told Emily it's not often you get to check out the inside of a Buddha. There really isn't much to see but for 20yen, it makes for good conversation.

エミリに大仏の中はほぼ見られないから、見てみよう。入場料は２０円だし、面白い話のネタにもなるじゃん。

Kangetsudo (Moon Viewing Hall) / 観月堂

Kangestudo explanation / 観月堂について

I suggested going to Hase Temple as it is located near Kotoku-in and that is where we went next.

僕の提案で長谷寺にも行きました。

Emily and her brother Jimmy.

エミリとエミリのお兄さんのジミ。

Explanation for the above picture / 上記の写真の説明

Hotei - one of Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune / 布袋 ー 七福神の一人

Temple Bell / 鐘楼

Clam Shell Prayer Boards / かきがら絵馬

Manji Pond / 卍池

1000 Jizo / 千体地蔵

Jizo-do / 地蔵堂

Benten-do / 弁天堂

We are going into a cave. It is the Benzai Cave.

洞窟に入ります。弁財窟です。

There are thousands of miniature Benzaiten statues. Another one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune.

洞窟の中に数え切れないほどの弁財天が居ます。

Daikoku-do / 大黒堂

Daikokuten - God of Wealth / 大黒天

Taisenkaku Ryokan  / 旅館對僊閣

A Japanese Inn, Taisenkaku has provided lodging services at the same location in Kamakura since the late Meiji era. The splendid north facade, decorated with four transom window railings and exquisite lattice windows, looks just as it did when first constructed. This inn is historically important since it was built before World War II.

對僊閣は、明治時代末期よりこの場所で旅館業を営んでます。４つの欄間窓、高欄、組子が密な格好窓を持った華やかな北側ファサードは、創建当初の姿をよく留めています。鎌倉における戦前の和風旅館として、歴史的にも大変貴重な建物です。

Hopping on the Enoden (Enoshima Line) to take us to Kamakura. The Kamakura Buddha is actually at an area called Hase.

長谷駅（鎌倉大仏がある場所）から江ノ電に乗りました。目指すのは鎌倉。

Me and Emily on the Enoden / 江ノ電の中の僕とエミリ

This particular train had the wooden floors.

乗った電車の床が木材です。

The Enoden / 江ノ電

Frogs at the end of the line. The word for frog in Japanese is kaeru which could also mean "going or coming home".

お帰りのカエルなんでしょうかね。

At Kamakura Station.

鎌倉駅に到着。

A  Totoro Shop! / となりのトトロ

And we made it to the Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine.

次の目的地に到着 ー 鶴岡八幡宮。

I managed to get a shot of a Miko-san and if you look closely, you can see Emily beyond the gate as well.

巫女さんの写真を撮ったら偶然にエミリも写ってる。

Emily with her husband Kelly.

エミリとエミリの夫のケリー。

And so ended our day tour of Kamakura.

そして鎌倉の旅の幕が閉じた。