Kamakura

Friday we had the day off, so I took the opportunity to take a day trip to Kamakura. I left Kannai Station around 7:20am and made it to KitaKamakura Station a little after 8am. After getting off of the train I went right to the first of many shrines. After  walking around the first shrine I tried to go to the one next to it but it was closed because it was too early in the morning... 

So I continued my walk. I noticed there was still quite a bit of clean up being done after Wednesday's Typhoon. There were down trees and branches littering the roads and sidewalks. The next shrine I visited actually had a large tree down right in front of the gate, luckily there was no damage. At the shrine the sign said closed, but some other people went in so I just followed along and walked with them. When I came out the lady was in the booth to take money, I tried to pay, but she wouldn't take my money. Next I continued my hike on an actual trail through woods... It was nice to be out of the city and have actual dirt under my feet... minus the giant snake a saw... I was happy it was still pretty early and no one was out and about, because I screamed like a little girl.

After hiking for a bit I came across another shrine. This shrine had the coolest dragon purification fountain. Before entering a shrine it is customary to wash both of your hands and rinse your mouth. Further along was yet another shrine. The entrance to this shrine was through a cave/tunnel, which was pretty cool. At this shrine many people wash their money in hopes that it will double. 

Next on my own personal shrine tour was the Daibutsu or the Giant Buddha. This Buddha is the second largest outdoor Buddha in Japan... It was inside until there was a large Tsunami in 1498. The Buddha is about 43 feet high and weighs 93 metric tons. It is made out of copper and lead, and was at one time gilded. After looking at the outside of the statue, I went inside. The statue is hollow, which was pretty cool, I walked inside Buddha's belly. After looking at the Buddha inside and out. I went and had some green tea ice cream, which was quite good. 

Next I had to back track to go to another shrine that I missed... I went on a wild goose chase, but I found it! I ended up walking in on the back side of the shrine. The best part about this shrine was the entrance, which was my exit... There were dozens of orange/reddish Toriis going up the hill. It looked really interesting. 

Further towards to Ocean was the last shrine/temple I visited. This one was by far one of the most interesting. There were tons of statues in this temple. The saddest ones were hundreds of statuettes for unborn children who have died. There were also giant gold statues of who knows who and beautiful fountains and buildings. There was also a neat part of the temple that was in a cave. The first part was really open and then the celling got lower and lower... but then I was back outside. This temple also had the cutest little statues (left). 

Having seen enough temples/shrines for one day (more than I had ever visited in my lifetime). I decided to go spend a little time on the beach. There was still quite a lot of debris from the Typhoon and crews and individuals were working hard to repair and clean up damage. The beach was littered with kelp, rope, buoys, and other debris washed ashore. I even found a car... it was a small toy, but still a car... As I was walking some people snapped a picture of me, I guess I look pretty different here in Japan... But I still find it odd... I sat and watched the surfers attempt to catch a wave, the ocean was pretty flat, but it passed the time and gave my feet a break. After a sitting on the beach I started to get a little hungry, so I made my way towards Kamakura Station. I walked around looking for something good to eat... looking is the key word, because I still have no idea how to read Japanese... So I decided on a little place, that was not the one I had actually decided on but I made eye contact with the lady inside and then I felt obligated to go inside to eat. It was just a little Jazz Bar, which was quite funny. There were only about 10 seats all at the bar. I sat down and then four other people sat down, they were very excited to try out their English on me. Which was fine by me, I had some delicious curry that I was eating and I was more than happy to attempt a conversation. After dinner I made my way to Kamakura Station, and back to Kannai and then home. Kamakura was beautiful and I look forward to visiting again.