・What is wagashi?

Wagashi is Japanese sweets made by a traditional process, and it is distinguished from European sweets which came into Japan after the Meiji period. It is made almost entirely of plant originated ingredients, using minimal amount of oils. Its main ingredients consist of red beans, flour, rice, arrowroot (kuzu), sugar, and syrup. Wagashi sweets made of these which are relatively low in calorie and high in nutrients are given credit in the recent years.

These sweets also express the four seasons of the year. Different ingredients are used for each season, allowing us to taste and feel them through all five senses. We are able to enjoy its beauty with our eyes, taste the sweetness, feel the smooth texture and softness, let the scent of nature enfold us, and listen to the sound as we take a bite into it. It is a Japanese way of valuing the unison with the natural world.

・Wagashi Ichigetsu
From left: Natsugoromo [summer clothes], Hyoutan [gourd], Himawari [sunflower]. They all resemble images of summer.

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Sea urchin(UNI)

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Now on to one of Kamakura’s famous temples, Hasedera. Not only does this temple allow one to enjoy the Hase Kannon and the many flowers blooming in the vicinity, but also gives its visitors a taste of Buddhist teachings and of history.

The main temple building

One of its main highlights, the “Hase Kannon,” is one of Japan’s largest wooden Avalokitesvara sculptures standing 9 meters tall. With its shiny gold color, it doesn’t disappoint. There is a ban on photography, so for particulars, please refer here (https://www.hasedera.jp/01_hasedera/01/index.html).

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