Kamakura

Kamakura is the Kyoto of east Japan. It is a small town by the sea with more than 15 temples within walking distance (I only had time to see about 9 of them). Most of them are Zen temples (Zen came to Japan from China). They say that when a priest started a new temple, he planted seeds from China at the entrance. Hence, pic 1.

This pebble style garden is very common and I have to admit, very relaxing to watch.

One of the temples was hidden in a small valley between the hills, and you could only access it through a small hole in the hils.

Last but not least, the Great Buddha. Its shape is distorted so that it will appear normal from the far; apparently this idea was imported from Greece.