Japan - Tokyo - Okinawa | My Travel Report: Kamakura
Hello Steemians,
Two years ago I was in Japan with my family for 14 days. My in-laws were there, too. My father-in-law comes from Russia and did his military service in Vladivostok, since then he dreams of visiting Japan. For him, it was a long dream come true. And for us it was such a nice experience that we definitely want to go there again. Already for the reason that we only looked at Tokyo, a little surrounding area and Okinawa, the country has so much more to offer. It is very clean and really beautiful, the Japanese are friendly and very disciplined and I would like to bring you closer to a small series of different places we have visited there and wish you a lot of fun.
Hike to Daibutsu
Today is our second day in Japan, the first week we are in Tokyo and the surrounding area the second in Okinawa. On the first day we were allowed to see the beautiful Obon at the festival of lights, I already wrote a little report about that some time ago.
Today we can see the Daibutsu, the Giant Buddha in Kamakura and because we love nature we made a hike from the station Kita-Kamakura Station through hilly terrain to the temple Kōtoku-in in which the Buddha stands. The easiest way to get there is from Tokyo Central Station with the JR Yokosuka line directly to Kamakura, the ticket Kamakura Enoshima Pass (700 yen approx. 6-7$) is valid for the round trip. The trip took a little over an hour.
Arriving by train from Tokyo, we had to walk a few meters along the main road, along small restaurants and old shops, until we reached the road that then leads on to the hiking trail.
Singzicades and their remaining larvae are already interesting to look at.
Small old protected buildings testify to the importance of Japanese traditions.
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On this way we have often seen these bamboo groves which really look massive.
After the bamboo we went directly on the hiking trail in the direction Kōtoku-in temple.
During the hike we discovered this small beautiful shrine which was not directly on the way.
Further through the really jungle-like wilderness, as it is very hot in August around the Tokyo area, it was very pleasant here, which made hiking a lot easier.
About halfway along the way we stopped at Kuzuhara Oka Shrine where, as everywhere in Japan, there are the obligatory vending machines with different kinds of tea.
Here the locals tried to catch something with their nets, unfortunately we could not see what it was.
Now the descent back towards Kamakura.
Only a few more meters to the Giant Buddha.
As with almost all temples or shrines we have visited, the ONI (Japanese devils) are watching at the entrances.
The Daibutsu itself is really impressive and its creation can be traced back to 1252. On information boards within the area you can read about the construction history and further information about the Buddhist temple. It is really very interesting that the Buddha becomes thinner and thinner as it is rubbed off by sand and sea air.
Afterwards we went back to the big city and so a really nice excursion day in Japan ended.
Thanks for reading my little report.
If you like that, you might also be interested in
| Four places in Okinawa-Jima - My favourites! | OBON Festival in TOKYO |
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cya
Markus
Kamakura is a very nice place with many temples and shrines.
I staid one night in Kamakura and after all the tourists are gone back to Tokyo, Kamakura is very calm and relaxing !