Kamakura

26 October 2024

Kamakura felt like a mix of seaside calm and old Japan. Once the political center of the country during the shogunate era, it’s now known for its temples, shrines, and laid-back coastal vibe. I came for the Great Buddha and the hiking trails through the hills, but the small streets and beach atmosphere made it just as memorable.

Día 1

Kotoku-in Temple
Hasedera Temple

We checked out of our guesthouse at 10:00am. Didn’t see the hosts on the way out. We took the metro to Shibuya station then bought a JR pass to Kamakura. The ride took 1.5 hours or so but we did have to get off and wait for a different line at one point that was direct. We then got an electric local train to take us closer to our hotel. We checked in and left our stuff inside. Talked with parents for a bit.

Kotoku-in Temple

Kōtoku-in Temple is home to the Great Buddha of Kamakura, a massive bronze statue that sits calmly under the open sky. Standing over 11 meters tall, it has endured since the 13th century, surviving earthquakes and tsunamis that destroyed its original hall. Seeing it up close, weathered green from centuries in the elements, gives the statue a quiet strength that’s hard to forget.

Hasedera Temple

Hasedera Temple in Kamakura is known for its massive wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, standing over 9 meters tall. The temple grounds climb up the hillside, with gardens, ponds, and views of the coast from the upper terrace. It’s a peaceful spot with a lot to take in, from the intricate halls to the hundreds of small Jizo statues scattered around the paths.

We walked to a katsu place but we werent allowed to share and Indi didnt want to eat a full plate of beef. We got something at Mcdonalds because I was getting hangry and from there went to a place that cooks hamburger patties in front of you. I ordered a steak instead but I regret it because the patty was better. We walked along a walking street and got some dried fruit and a daifuku.

We walked 35min back to the hotel and showered. I then walked to dominoes and we ate pizza and watched My Neighbor Totoro.

Día 2

Enoshima Benzaiten Shopping Street

Enoshima Benzaiten Shopping Street

We checked out of the hotel and stached our bags in a single 500 yen locker at the nearest train station. Everything barely fit. Unlike the previous day, it was sunny and warmer.

We decided to take the electric train on a ride along the coast. I picked a station where there was a beach and paid the fare to there. The ride was alright. The beaches are not very scenic but it was cool. We (especially Indi) were on our phones playing games for a lot of it. It was for this reason that I accidentally missed the stop and we got off at the next station. The fare cost the same and I saw a sign showing there was an island to walk out to so I decided we should stay and explore. Getting off there ended up being a happy accident. It was a nice walk down a bridge to the island which then turned into an uphill walking street full of stores.

Enoshima Benzaiten Shopping Street is the lively approach to Enoshima Island, lined with small shops, seafood stalls, and souvenir stands. The street climbs gently toward the shrine, making it a mix of browsing and sightseeing as you go. Grilled seafood skewers, fresh clams, and local specialties like octopus crackers make it a great place to snack your way uphill. We bought a bunch of chopsticks. We walked all the way to the top and saw some kites (birds of prey) circling looking for food to steal out of tourists hands. I tried a bunch of sodas on a diabetes speed run, including a local citrus cider that was nice.

We went to a Hawaiian restaurant for lunch that was surprisingly good – better than hawaiian food that I remember having. It started raining while we were eating so we ordered a pancake for dessert which was way good. It let up by the time we finished. We took the train back and then decided to return to Tokyo. We got our bags and then rode to Kamakura station where we got on a JR train. We bought Tokyo Metro 72 hour passes and then took the metro to our hostel. The hostel is really close to Tokyo skytree which is pretty cool because of the view.

Next time

On our next adventure, we visit one of the most famous cities in the world for the first time: Tokyo.