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Kamakura City is the town where a long time ago there was "the Kamakura Shogunate".
"Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (鶴岡八幡宮)" is the Shinto shrine where many people prayed at as a God of the Kanto area.

This is"second torii (二の鳥居)" of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮).

we will glad you when refered in sight-seeing.

This torii is made of concrete and its height is 8.5 m.

A very big Komainu (狛犬 / shrine's lion dogs), dedicated in 1961.

Both of them are facial expressions, so it seems they will be happy just looking at them.

The "Sando" (approach to a shrine) is approximately 2km from the sea direction to a Shinto shrine.

This is the "third torii (三の鳥居)". You enter the precincts of a shrine at here.

This is "Taiko-bashi"(太鼓橋 / an arched bridge).

This bridge is blockaded now.

On the right side of the Sando (参道 / approach to Japanese shrine) is "Genpei-ike Pond (源平池)".

This Genpei-ike Pond (源平池) is a popular shooting spot where lotus flowers bloom in summer.

The Sando (参道) is long and gravel stones are laid, so the summer is quite hot.

It is a very big Shinto shrine, but "Temizuya (手水舎 / Hand-wash Place)" is small

Manner of Temizuya (手水舎)

* In this process, carried out with one dipper-full of water!!

1. Put water in "Ladle" which is placed in the Temizuya.
2. Holding Ladle in your right hand, wash your left hand.
3. next, wash your right hand.
4. Put water in the left hand and move to mouth, wash the mouth.
5. Hold the Ladle vertically so remaining water runs down and clean the handle.

This is a general usage Manner.

This is "Maiden (舞殿). Here dedicatory dances and music are performed.

On weekends, wedding ceremonies are often held.

This was dedicated to the shrine. It is a barrel of "sake".

This great ginkgo tree (about 1,000 years old) fell down on March 10 2010.

However, in a year or so later, the sprouts budded miraculously.

And it became a "new power spot" as a place where new life force can be felt.

When you climb the large stone stairway, there is "Shaden (社殿)" there. *There are 61 stairs

The character of "八" is represented by two pigeons.

Shaden (社殿) is designated as an important cultural property of the country.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮) manner of worship

1. Let's put a coin in the saisen box.
2. Twice, bow your head and let's say a deep greeting.
3. Match your hands at the chest height, clap two times, and pray to the god.
4. Finally, let's bow again and say a deep greeting once.

Yabusame festival (流鏑馬) is held every September in this Sando (参道).

Beside the "Taiko-bashi (太鼓橋 /an arched bridge)", there is a "strange-shaped pine".

photographed on July. 2014.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮) is a shrine related to romance, so "神前結婚式 (wedding before divine)" is very popular.

English on this page is translated from Japanese to English using the Google translation site. Sorry if there are sentences that are difficult to read.