Not Just Another "H" Temple in Kamakura

Brian and I spent a Saturday together without the girls recently. We set out with a plan to visit a popular bamboo garden at a temple in Kamakura. It was quicker, quieter and easier without kids--obviously. But it wouldn't be an adventure in Japan without a little uncertainty and diversion along the way.

Despite the typical directional snafus during our travels, I remain eternally hopeful regarding the use of a map to navigate Japan. But after countless previous trips to Kamakura, still, I left home without one this day.

Three "H" temples, a friendly face, and a 30-minute walk later, we finally entered the correct "H" temple--Hokokuji Temple.




We walked the stepping stone path (first photo, above) through the impressive bamboo garden, enjoying a spot of o-cha along the way at this quaint temple teahouse--somewhat of a Zen finale for our misadventure.

Truthfully, we really only mistook one other "H" temple for the one in which we'd find the bamboo garden, but we passed at least three "H" temples or shrines. This photo (left) shows the walking path through the Hokaiji Temple. Hokokuji, Hokaiji, Hachimangu--after two years, just when I had begun to think all temples were starting to look and sound alike, maybe karma intervened.

The "H" temple we visited by mistake in pursuit of the bamboo garden led us to a cemetary--not a thirst-quenching, heart-warming teahouse enveloped by living, green bamboo.


Maybe that'll teach us to notice and appreciate significant differences among temples in the future.