Superb Ofuna Kannon✨Temple & Mysterious💫Taya Caves of Kamakura!

The Ofuna Kannon Temple: (大船観音寺, Ōfuna Kannonji) is a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect in Kamakura, Japan. The beautiful temple-statue stands 25 meters, or 82 feet tall & weighs nearly 2,000 tons!
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On the 18th, a special festival will be held at Ofuna Kannon-ji Temple, which will add to the festivity and sublime beauty of this unique place!
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This Asian bodhisattva (a being that forgoes nirvana to remain on Earth & help people) called Guanyin, (in China) or Kannon, is known as a Goddess of mercy & compassion.
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The Byukue (White-robed) Kannon, one of 33 forms of the deity, is said to prevent natural disasters, cure the sick & help women in childbirth.
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Visitors going to Kamakura often see the tall Kannon-ji once their train approaches Ōfuna Station. Construction of the Temple began in 1929 & the rough statue was complete by 1934 but work halted at the start of the Pacific War. The Ofuna Kannon Society resumed construction in 1954, completing the temple in 1960.
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The statue is made of sections of poured concrete cast entirely by hand, no concrete pumping trucks were used! The statue itself contains a small museum and shrine, both of which are open for viewing.
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The red stone jewel on her forehead is called “byakugo” (白毫). It is meant to give light to each and every place in the world.
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The Kannon incorporates stones from ground zero of Hiroshima & Nagasaki in memory of those who died from the atomic bombings. A fire originating from the atomic fires of Hiroshima burns in a mushroom-formed statue in the area of monuments below the statue, near the museum.
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Surrounded by many trees, flowering plants & a green lawn, it's a lovely spot to sit & meditate, or enjoy a snack after visiting the temple in the rear of the statue.
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MYSTERIOUS TAYA CAVES of JOSEN-JI TEMPLE:
Not far from the Ofuna Kannon, a wonderful mixture of history, religion & dark, eerie caverns, are the Taya Caves!
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Located at Mount Taya, the caves form part of Josen-ji Temple, which belongs to Shingon-shu, an “esoteric” sect of Buddhism.
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This mysterious underground cavern is said to date back almost 1000 years, to the 12th Century. Legends say that a local family began excavating Mount Taya to create a hiding place for their treasures.
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The caves were developed further over a period of 500 years by the Shingon Buddhist monks, to create an underground site for religious practice. Centuries of hard work produced a network of passageways & chambers spanning 1.5km over three different levels.
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There are 17 chambers of varying sizes containing beautiful Buddhist carvings & Sanskrit characters!
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To enter the caves, we pay a fee of around 400yen at Josen-ji Temple. In return, we’ll get a pamphlet & a small candle. Making our way towards the cave entrance, we'll step into the shadows & light our candles inside the doorway. The atmosphere is damp with glistening walls and a dripping ceiling. The temperature is mild & still, so it’s comfortable to explore anytime.
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As you slowly make your way along, you’ll notice candles & offerings placed in wall recesses as well as the ornate carvings in the meditation chambers. It’s wonderful to explore by candlelight, but don’t worry; there is backup lighting along the path.
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Try to imagine the tremendous effort that went into building this place, and the deep meditations that became possible in this quiet underground sanctuary.
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PAYING RESPECTS TO JIZO:
Once we’re ready for fresh air, we can make our way back out to the temple grounds. Before leaving, make sure to stop by the large collection of Jizo statues & pay respects to Jizo who protects the souls of unborn, stillborn, aborted & miscarried children.
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It’s quite common for locals to clothe Jizo statues as part of their prayer process. The statues at Josen-ji Temple are dressed in all kinds of hats, coats & other accessories to help keep them warm in the afterlife.
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I visited these places just 2 years ago & our group had an AMAZING experience, so let's all go and enjoy them together!
(There is also a glassblowing studio not far from Taya-san and an Onsen or Sento public bath which we may be able to visit as we head back towards the Ofuna Kannon.)
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WHERE AND WHEN?
Please meet us outside the SOUTH Gate of JR Ofuna Station, in front of LUMINE between 11:00 and 11:15pm. Once gathered, we'll take a leisurely walk to Taya. After visiting Josen-ji & Taya caves, we'll explore before going to Kannon-ji.
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The temple may have some food booths, but please pack a lunch or snacks, which we can eat along the way. Afterwards we can go for food, drink & chatting near Ofuna station.
This will be an unusual & enjoyable tour, so let's all go!
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We work hard to plan interesting events & to guide you to the best places, so please give generously!　Suggested: Students, Seniors, Underemployed: ￥2000. Others, please pay from￥3000 + admission to Kannon-ji & the caves.
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Children over 5 years come FREE with a parent!
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Bring comfortable shoes, a beverage & your smile!
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Thanks, your Meetup organizer ~ KERRY D. 😎