Road to Jojuin Temple in Kamakura

Take a leisurely walk looking for spring!

Takako Sakamoto Mar 25, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Looking up at the main gate and the sign of Jojuin Temple</p>

<p>You'll notice this sign on the street when you walk to Jojuin Temple from Gokurakuji Temple near Gokurakuji Station</p>

<p>An old and battered stone marker of Jojuin Temple stands at the foot of stone steps leading to the temple.</p>

<p>This pathway is famous for beautiful hydrangeas in June, but in late February, there were only dead leaves decorating the path...</p>

<p>...but when I looked closely, I found these pretty flowers! Spring is surely coming!</p>

<p>Solemn faces of dark stone jizo statues and tomb stones</p>

<p>Again, dead leaves here and there</p>

<p>But there were some new leaves coming out in fresh green!</p>

<p>Then I found one small plum blossom on a pathway, how pretty!</p>

<p>This is the west entrance of Jojuin Temple</p>

<p>The view of Yuigahama Beach seen from the top of the stone steps leading to the temple</p>

<p>Although sunny, it was a cold day, but apparently surfers didn't care!</p>

<p>Wooden sign says, 'Nishi-kekkai', which means the west entrance to a sacred area</p>

On a day in late February I visited Gokurakuji Temple in Kamakura in search of spring. However, I only found a few plum blossoms just starting to bloom in front of a temple, as well as very interesting photographers trying to capture a train coming out of a tunnel. Disappointed, I followed a road sign and took a walk toward Jojuin Temple looking for a herald of spring. This temple is famous for gorgeous hydrangeas decorating the pathway in June, but in late February there didn't seem to be any flowers there. However when I looked closely, I found small flowers and green new leaves here and there. Surely spring was coming!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...