Hase-dera temple

Hase-dera temple commonly called the Hase-kannon is one of the Buddhist temples in the city of Kamakura, famous for housing a massive wooded statue of Kannon (God of Mercy).

The temple originally belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism but eventually became an independent temple of the Jōdo-shū.

Legend has it that the temple was established in the Tenpyō era (729-749 C.E.), however, documents at the temple suggest that the temple really came into its own during the Kamakura period (1192-1333) and it’s generally accepted that the temple was founded in 736 after the monk Tokudo Shonin found a huge tree in the forests of Nara. He cuts the tree in half and carved two statues of Kannon in 729.

Although the temple has been reconstructed a number of times, the Hase-dera temple was built of reinforce concrete to enshrine the Kannon statue.  After the devastation of the Earthquake of 1923, it took 60  years to renovate and rebuilt and finally it was completed in 1985.

The entrance on the smaller Hall on the right called Amida-do Hall.

Incent burner holder right at the entrance.

Inside the hall is the Amida statue is believed to be carved to ward off evil for Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan.  It has been called Yakuyoke Amida or Amida of expelling evil spirits and misfortune in later years.

The Amida statue represent one of Kaakura's six Amida.  In addition a large mokugyo (Temple's wood block to sound when chanting) sits inside the Hall.

The temple is located at a seaside so if you keep walking you will reach the Yuigahama beach at the end.

You can access the beach from the temple.

Entrance of the Main Hall

The court yard and entrance of the Kannon Museum.

Adjacent to the main hall is the Kannon Museum, a small museum that requires an additional entrance fee so we did not go in.

 It exhibits some more of the temple's treasures, including Buddhist statues, a temple bell and a picture scroll.

Inari-sha (Kakigara-inari) shrine is found with many red flags on the side.  It was established to enshrine Kakigara (oyster shells) to receive the divine guidance of Kannon.  According to legend, it has been told that Kakigara protected the Kannon statue when drifting across the sea, as they attached to the statue and guided Kannon to the shore.

A grave next to the temple.

The inner sanctuary with Buddha statue in the center.

4 Jikokuten (guardian diety) protecting Buddha from four corners.

Koi fish pond.

This temple is a Kyozo which is a repository for storing Buddhist scriptures and chronicles of the temple history.

Hand copied ancient texts are added and stored in the Kyozo for a long time.

You can see a revolving shelves as soon as you enter the Kyozo

The scriptures are stored in these rotary bookshelf called Rinzo.  It is believed that when you rotate the Rinzo once, you will receive the same virtue as when you recite all the scriptures stored inside.

The Rinzo bookshelf can be turned on the 18th of every month.

Sign indicating you can not rotate the rotating bookshelf today.

Schedule on when you can rotate the Rinzo bookshelves.

Sign outside the Kyozo letting people when you can rotate the Rinzo,

Small Bamboo garden

Observation Platform

This observation platform overlooking the townscape of Kumakura and the ocean is known as of the best view points in Kamakura.

Our tour is now done and we are leaving the temple.

    NEXT..........Dinner at Kotaro, Tokyo