初夏の鎌倉、半日散歩/Taking a half day walk in Kamakura of early summer
葬儀準備の前に鎌倉を半日散歩、東慶寺のイワガラミ
あまり縁起の良い話でなくて恐縮ですが、義父が6月初旬に亡くなり、葬儀に先立って6月5日に納棺式になりました。午後の式の前に心を落ち着かせるために、鎌倉の実家の周りを半日だけ散歩しました。まずは北鎌倉の東慶寺。
Take a walk in Kamakura for half day before the funeral preparation; Iwagarami of Tokeiji temple
My father in law has died in the beginning of June. Before the funeral Noukansiki (Make up ceremony before placing the body in the coffin) took place on 5. June. My wife’s home is just off Kamakura. I decided to take a walk in Kamakura before the ceremony in the afternoon. The first destination is Tokeiji temple at north-Kamakura.
(English text continues to the latter half of the page)
「縁切寺」、あるいは「紫陽花寺」として有名な東慶寺ですが、どうも今年の紫陽花（アジサイ）はぱっとしない。
ただ本堂の裏では崖を埋め尽くす勢いで「イワガラミ」が満開になっていました。同寺では6/16（日）までこのイワガラミを公開しています。
こちらはイワガラミと同じように崖にへばりついて咲くイワタバコ。紫の花が可憐。
平日にもかかわらず大混雑の鶴岡八幡宮
それにしても平日の午前中だというのに、どうしてこんなに人が多いのか。特に修学 旅行の中高生と中国人がやたらに多い！鎌倉も「オーバーツーリズム」は深刻そう。
鶴岡八幡宮を出て昼食。ご存知のように鶴ケ丘八幡宮を出ると鎌倉駅の横を通って「段葛（だんかずら）」と呼ばれる参道が海に向かって続いています。その両脇に飲食店も連なりますが、面白いのは八幡宮から離れるにしたがって価格帯が安くなること。
少し文字が小さくなってしまいましたが、鶴ケ丘八幡宮すぐ前の食堂と、300mほど離れた飲食店の看板。前者のメニューが平均して1,600円くらいに対して、後者は1,000円未満のメニューが多数を占めています。もちろん八幡宮から離れたところで美味しい昼食をいただきました。
竹林が圧巻の報国寺
最後に報国寺、ここは「竹寺」とも呼ばれていて竹林が有名。鎌倉の神社仏閣の中では比較的マイナーな存在ですが、ここの竹林は一見の価値があります。
竹林に入るには拝観料300円が必要、さらに竹林の中の茶店でお茶をいただくサービスが付くと500円。ゆっくりとした時間が過ごせます。しかし竹の背が高過ぎて写真ではとてもこの壮大さが伝わりませんので、竹林の入り口から茶店まで歩いて動画にしてみました。少しでもこの静謐の雰囲気を感じ取ってもらえれば幸い。
Take a walk in Kamakura for half day before the funeral preparation; Iwagarami of Tokeiji temple
My father in law has died in the beginning of June. Before the funeral Noukansiki (Make up ceremony before placing the body in the coffin) took place on 5. June. My wife’s home is just off Kamakura. I decided to take a walk in Kamakura before the ceremony in the afternoon. The first destination is Tokeiji temple at north-Kamakura.
The temple is known also as “Enkiri-dera (Temple of refugee for women who escaped from violent husbands)” or “Ajisai-dera (Temple of hydrangea)”. But Hydrangea was a bit undistinguished this year.
However Iwagarami flowers were full bloom behind the main hall. The temple is opening this flower until 16. June.
This is Iwatabako flower which blooms on the rock like Iwagarami. Violet flower is so cute.
Turugaoka-Hachimangu Shrine is so crowded in spite of weekday
It was weekday morning. Nevertheless so many people! Especially there were so many students of school trips and Chinese people. The issue of Overtourism looks serious in Kamakura, too.
After Tsurugaoka-Hachimangu Shrine was lunch time. As you know the abbey road called “Dankazura” is running from the shrine to the seashore. You can find many restaurants along both sides of Dankazura. There is an curious principle. As you are apart from the shrine prices gets cheaper.
Above is the comparison between the menu of 20m from the shrine and 300m from there. Average menu price of the former one was around 1,600 yen but the latter one offers meal set under 1,000 yen. Off course we had nice lunch apart from the shrine.
Magnificent bamboo garden at Hokokuji temple
The last destination was Hokokuji temple. This temple is called “Bamboo temple”. Although it might belong to minor destination among many temples and shrines in Kamakura, this bamboo garden is worth while seeing.
You need to pay 300 yen for the entry to bamboo garden, and 200 yen additional if you like to have a tea at café in the garden. You can have very relaxing time in bamboo. I took a short movie from the entrance to the café. It’s my pleasure if you can feel this serene atmosphere.