iPhone photos and videos of the beautiful scenery in Japan.

Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture,once it was a political capital along with Nara and Kyoto.
It makes an easy day trip from Tokyo and famous for the temple and shrine that has beautiful scenery with flowers.

But there are several hiking courses in Kamakura,too.
Because this city is surrounded by mountains and the sea.
Among them, you can see this beautiful spot on the way of Tenen Hiking trail that connects Kenchoji Temple in Kita-Kamakura with Zuisenji Temple.
It leads through the wooded hills in north of Kamakura in about 60-90 minutes.

Tenen Hiking trail has many entrances / exit.
The most popular one is Kencho-ji temple in Kitakamakura.
It is the number one of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples that was founded in 1253.
This is Somon gate. An entrance of this temple.

It is a ticket counter.
You have to pay 300 yen for one adult to go to Tenen hiking trail via the temple ground.

Saimon, the main gate.
You can take a beautiful picture of cherry blossoms with your smartphone at here in the beginning of April.

Hatto (Dharma Hall) and autumn leaves on the left.
It is the largest wooden temple building in eastern Japan.
They have a big picture of the dragon on its ceiling.
I got back as possible as I could until U had my back again to the wall of Butsuden (Buddha Hall) to take a picture of this building with autumn leaves.

After passing through the Hatao, you will see a golden gate of Hojo (Main Hall).
Then turn to left and go ahead.

There is a public lavatory near the golden gate.
It is a Japanese traditional style building and very clean.

Walk along the river in accordance with the directly.

You can take beautiful pictures of autumn leaves with stone monuments and  stone-carved guardian dog along the path.

There is a long stairs behind this Torii gate leading up to the Hansobo.

After going up the stairs , I could see beautiful autumn foliage with stone-carved guardian dogs.
Then keep on going up the stairs.

Chozuya (Temizusha) at the bottom of the long stairs to Hanzobo.
It is place for ritual cleansing of hands and mouth water when visiting shrines.

You can take a beautiful picture of Tengu statue and autumn leaves from the foot of the stairs.
Tengu is a guardian of Hansobo and Kencho-ji temple.

There was a Hansobo on top of the stairs.
It is a shrine for the protection of Kenchoji temple.

There was an observation deck on the left which you can see Mount Fuji in a clear day.

I took this picture with 6 times zoom by iPhone with attaching 2x telephoto lens of Switch 6 for iPhone 8 Plus / iPhone 7 Plus.
If you don’t wear any lens to your smartphone, you will need 8 – 10 times zoom.

If you don’t tripod, you can take a better picture by putting your smartphone or camera on this corner as it tend to become blurry photo due to camera shake by zooming.

On the right side of Hansobo, there was a shamusho, or shrine office.
It is where shrine take requests for special prayers and visitors can buy talismans to protect their homes and themselves.

Next to Shamusho, there was a vending machine for hot coffee / tea / green tea.
There was also a free water server on the left.

You can see the beautiful scenery of Sagami bay with a Tengu statue at the free rest area on opposite side of the Shamusho and vending machine.

After I took rest , I went up the steep stone stairs.

A place little under Shojoken observatory was the best photo spot.
Because the trees at Shojoken observatory cuts off the view.

I took this picture with 5 times zoom by iPhone with attaching 2x telephoto lens of Switch 6 for iPhone 8 Plus / iPhone 7 Plus.
If you don’t wear any lens to your smartphone, you will need 9 – 10 times zoom.
And if you don’t tripod, you can take a better picture by putting your smartphone or camera on the top of a wood pole as it tend to become blurry photo due to camera shake by zooming.

This picture was taken by iPhone7 Plus with 10 times zoom without telephoto lens.

You can take a beautiful picture of the scenery of Sagami Bay in the below at the same place.
Kenchoji temple and Izu peninsula could be seen on the right.

Shojoken observatory.
It was a simple place with one bench seat.

The trail from Shojoken observatory leads you to the top of Ohira mountain in 30 – 40 minutes.
It is the highest place in Tenen hiking trail (159 meters above sea level) and is a nice photo spot where you can take beautiful scenery of the mountain and Sagami bay.

Then we went down the steep slopes.

As we got closer to the Shishimai Valley, we could see autumn leaves.

We’ve finally arrived at Shishimai valley!
What a picturesque scenery.

As I looked down , I found the moss were also beautiful.

The road was muddy here and there because it rained yesterday.
So we have to watch our steps carefully.