Hase-dera: Small Lantern

As opposed to many of the lanterns you may have seen at temples and shrines, this one is rather small and low to the ground. I felt it was an interesting find.

Hase-dera is a Jodo (Pure Land) temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa with beautiful views of the beach and sea. Established in the 700's, Hase-dera was originally a Tendai temple founded by Tokudo Shonin. Tokudo is said to have been responsible for creating the large wooden Kannon which resides inside Hase-dera's Kannon-do. It is the largest wooden statue in Japan. The twin statue, also created by Tokudo (carved from the same tree) is located in Nara.