daibutsu – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

An Afternoon in Kamakura

Susan Spann Blog July 27, 2018daibutsu, Japan, Kamakura, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

With temperatures in Tokyo soaring to near record-breaking levels, I’ve taken a few days off from my #100Summits climbs (though the adventure continues this weekend . . . so stay tuned!). Since my husband hasn’t seen much of Japan, we decided to spend this afternoon in Kamakura–a coastal city southwest of Tokyo that served as the political center of Japan during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), when Japan was ruled by the Minamoto shoguns. Although my mystery novels are set in the 16th century–long after Kamakura ceased to function as a center of Japanese culture and government–I love this ancient city, and

Crawling Through the Buddha’s Nostril

Admin Uncategorized August 25, 2016buddha's nostril, daibutsu, Great Buddha, great buddha hall, Japan, Nara, passing the buddha's nostril

I saw a lot of strange, and sometimes unbelievable, things and places in Japan. But watching my adult son squeeze through an 18″ hole in a massive pillar, while a crowd of Japanese visitors cheered him on, was among the strangest–and most fun–of all.

A Visit to Tōdaiji

Admin Uncategorized August 22, 2016Buddhism, daibutsu, daibutsuden, Great Buddha, great buddha hall, Japan, temples, Tōdaiji

Tōdaiji is a Buddhist temple located in Nara, Japan, and was founded in 728, when Emperor Shōmu established a predecessor temple on the spot to honor his son, Prince Motoi, who died while still a baby.