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Something in every season
Hasedera is well worth the visit. It is a seriously impressive temple with dozens of things to explore, and great views, all year round. You can see examples in the previous two reviews. But, in addition, each season there is something different to see. Shortly, you will be able to see the hydrangea on the grounds and they have hydrangea floral fonts. They even have a large water flower display in one of the ponds, more like a flower raft. In Autumn you can enjoy the leaves. In winter, temple light up. And in spring, cherry blossoms.
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on May 18
Visit in June for hydrangea season
Kamakura is quite packed with great places to enjoy hydrangeas (one of my favorite blooms), and Hasedera is just one of them. Over two thousand hydrangea bushes can be found here, and the best time to enjoy them is the June/July timeframe – right around the corner! There is an admission fee to visit the temple (400 yen) but I think it's worth it, not just for the beauty of the grounds but for the historical element as well.
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on May 16
A place that inspires awe every time I visit
Every time I visit Kamakura City, I make a point of visiting Hasedera. I had imagined what a Japanese temple would be - a legendary object of veneration, a tranquil garden, and a hands-on experience. Hasedera delivers! Just inside the gate shaded with a pine tree is a pond with koi surrounded by a variety of plants and flowers that bloom throughout the year. A hall flanking the pond is a restful spot for copying sutras or tracing the image of a Buddha. In a cave below the temple are statues to Benzaiten. Above are halls, one of which houses a magnificent gilded statue of the Eleven Faced Kannon. on specific days, visitors can turn the shelves storing sutras at the scripture repository. In the old days, before everyone was literate, this was a way to encounter Buddhist teaching. The hall with the massive statue inspires awe as it is huge, gilded, and replete with Buddhist iconography. The rest spot with benches and vending machines overlooks the sea.
BigfamJapan
on May 21