I think Kamakura might be the best of the nearby sightseeing spots you can reach by train from Tokyo. From Shinjuku, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line gets you there in under an hour. Hakone and Nikko, by comparison, are a bit far for a day trip, and most other places don’t really have enough to see to call them tourist spots. It’s the middle of the rainy season so I was a little worried, but the weather was nice, so I headed out without a care.
I thought about getting up early and going, but I’d had a pretty grueling week and wanted to enjoy a relaxed weekend, so I took my time and left around 10. It’s a bit over an hour by train, so I brought a fairly thick book so I wouldn’t get bored on the way. Turns out I’d thought wrong.
When I went to catch the Shonan-Shinjuku Line at the station, it was practically a weekday rush-hour commuter train. It was so packed that reading, or anything else, was impossible. I figured a lot of people would get off along the way, but more than half of them were headed to Kamakura. I wanted a leisurely weekend trip, and who knew Kamakura was this popular…
The view in front of the station
Anyway, I made it. Getting squashed on a packed train did wear me out. On top of that, the couples in front of and behind me were all over each other… Well, still, it only takes an hour, so it’s an easy weekend trip. And since there are trains, you can stay out late without worrying about getting home.
Before I came, I knew about three things about Kamakura.
1. There are lots of temples.
2. There’s a giant Buddha statue.
3. It’s where the manga Slam Dunk is set.
Other than that common knowledge, I came without looking anything up. I figured I’d somehow manage once I got there, and sure enough, I was right. ^_^ It’s such a popular place with so many visitors that I got around without any worries.
Watermelon, cola and ramune in the shopping street
This is the quintessential Japanese summer scene. Lately, when I walk down the street, I catch the smell of watermelon and beer more and more. Summer is about to arrive for real.
A temple… or rather, a shrine
There really are a lot of temples. It’s a perfect sightseeing spot for foreigners who want to see Japanese culture. Nikko has plenty of temples too, but it’s farther and more expensive. Hard to do as a day trip, too…
A shrine
Lots of people, maybe because it’s the weekend.
Another shrine
There are dozens of temples and shrines. Short on time, I only looked at one before moving on to the next stop. I’ve seen more than enough temples in Kyoto anyway.
After a quick look at the temple, I went to Komachi, an area full of little shops and restaurants. I spotted lots of famous places with long lines out front. I thought about joining one, but I’d already decided on today’s lunch, so I skipped it. Just making time to go around eating at good places would be fun.
Oh, and some Korean tourists saw the Japanese people lining up and said, “They just love standing in line.” Honestly, how many people actually like lining up? I don’t think it has much to do with national character. They just have a bit more room in their lives to invest in eating.
Past Komachi, I head to the market.
It’s a small market selling vegetables and so on. Nice and compact.
A café-bakery inside the market
The interior design was really pretty. I thought about going in but held back. I decided that next time I come to Kamakura, I’ll have lunch here. ^_^
Bread from this place
It looked so good I bought one. 500 yen for one big loaf, a little cheaper than in Tokyo. As expected, it tasted amazing. Bread this good… The ingredients inside aren’t top-of-the-line, but the baking skill is definitely first-rate. Next time I visit, I’ll have to ask them to let me in on their secret. ^_^
The chiffon cake shop right next door
It’s a tiny shop inside the market, but people were lining up.
So I lined up and bought some too ^_^
One taste and I could see it was worth the wait. ^_^ Perfect as a gift.
The table at a famous croquette shop in Kamakura
Photographic proof that celebrities have been here.
After wandering around here and there, I finally reached my next stop, the place with the Great Buddha. Admission is 200 yen, not expensive.
The Great Buddha
More impressive than I expected. It was worth going out of my way for. The Buddha’s expression in particular is stunning. Now I get why it’s famous… Kamakura would be perfect to visit when you’re traveling in Tokyo and want a taste of the Nara or Kyoto atmosphere.
Yuigahama Beach, Shonan’s sea
The water is dirty, the beach is narrow, and yet it’s swarming with people. So this is what Shonan looks like, I thought. The Shonan-born bosozoku bikers who show up in countless delinquent manga must have grown up in this kind of atmosphere…
Now and then there are people ignoring everything around them and enjoying the quiet.
Lots of surfers.
It’s decent enough for surfing, but it’s too shabby to really call a beach. If you live in Tokyo you probably don’t have much choice, but I don’t think it’s worth a special trip for Koreans.
It was a fun trip. With all the good places to eat, I have a feeling I’ll be back again and again. Very desirable in a travel destination. Next time I’d love to come on a date, but… well, that’s probably asking too much.
Probably…