I was very excited to come to Yokohama for I was going to meet up with a friend who lives here. I met Michiko 22 years ago on a tour and we have been corresponding for a long time. She has retired from working as a stewardess for Japan airlines. Michiko and her sister came on board the ship and we had a wonderful time chatting, laughing and asking questions about Japan. She is moving to a resort area near Mt. Fuji and is opening a store in her new home where she will sell her wood carvings and other items. It was wonderful seeing and visiting with her after such a long time.
The next day, I took a tour of Kamakura a resort city outside of Yokohama near the sea. It was lovely to experience Japan's countryside. First of all we visited Kotoku-in Temple to see Japan's second largest Buddha. It was a colossal bronze statue - 43 ft high and weighing 93 tons. There were many school children milling around on a field trip. We then went to see a Shinto Shrine called Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. It is one of the most popular shrines in Japan and was built in 1828. We saw a Shinto nun and a priest dressed in white going to a huge gong and banging on it to ask the gods for favours for a couple who were inside the shrine and had paid money to have the priest perform this ritual. It was all very interesting including the masses of huge Saki containers given to the priests in return for having favours answered. Wonder who drank all the Saki?
Great two days.
On our way to Russia after experiencing many good days of Japanese culture.
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