Hokokoji Temple (Bamboo Forest) and other Kamakura pics

There's nothing like Kamakura soft cream

our Japanese baby :)

Kamakura to Yokohama

Finally convinced them to sightsee...

Taking pics

Dim Sum

Sam wanted Dim Sum, too! 

It's always so busy here! 

When in Japan, pose as the Japanese do! 

Daibutsu (Giant Buddha)

Love, Peace & Taco Grease...

Justin insisted that we drive to the Buddha and while we were all skeptical of his ability to navigate with an all Japanese GPS, he got us there!

Gina and Mom

Soft Cream! 

hi-ya! 

Kenchoji Temple, Zazen and Green Tea

More Zazen details on TheMadHanster.blogspot.com ...

Feeling very Zen with the gals

Green tea & cookie

This cost over a million dollars to restore.

Beautiful grounds! 

Kamakura/Hachimangu Shrine

This was our first time taking the train and it was sooo easy! We went to Kamakura which was the capitol of Japan in the 12th century. We lost the group during lunch and ended up wandering into a very tiny, very Japanese restaurant with a limited menu. The hostess was very nice and while we somehow managed to order food, I could not tell you what it was! Cooper was very adventurous and sampled a little of everything before settling on the soup, a radish (?) dish and rice. I think we could get used to taking off our shoes and maybe even sitting on pillows, but the smoking allowed inside the restaurant was intense. I guess that's one CA law that I will miss...
After lunch we were able to reunite with one of the small groups and their English-speaking guide. The actual location of the shrine was very busy! There seemed to be quite a few school groups there looking for English speakers to interview. Justin was a popular choice and received paper cranes (origami) for his time!
I've become an expert at "holding it", but my mom and some of the other ladies with us couldn't so they got to experience the joy of a traditional japanese toilet! Haha! My mom'll probably be annoyed that I included that since it's basically just a hole in the ground... :P