Kamakura day trip
2007 Dec 15 Filed in: travel
Today I head to Kamakura (wp) for a day visit of this town. A visit to Kamakura is like a visit to the roots of old Japan. For 150 years in the 12th century this was the de-facto capital of Japan. Rivaling Kyoto, it was the 4th largest city in the world at the time. Today Kamakura is a very pleasant small town about 50km from Tokyo with a multitude of cultural sites to show for its long history.
The most famous landmark of Kamakura is the Daibutsu, a statue of the Amida Buddha at the Kotoku-in temple (wp). The statue was once housed in a building and covered in gold. A tsunami in 1498 washed away the building leaving the 93 ton bronze colossus exposed to the elements. Since then the weather has worn away its ornaments and exposed the bare bronze, but its aura has not changed.
In itself the statue is quite a wonderful engineering feat. It was most likely built in 1292 and measures 13.35m in height. It was cast of 93 tons of bronze and is hollow inside. The cast could not be completed in single process so different layers were added and the sections were fused together. The joints are still visible today.
Kamakura is also the home of Zen Buddhism. The first Zen monks arrived here from China, where they were prosecuted. The principles of discipline and devotion of Zen buddhism appealed to the Shogun to establish his military rule and gave Zen buddhism a privileged place in society at the time. The basis of this line of thought has shaped Japanese history since and remnants of it can still be found today.
The best way to discover Kamakura is on foot on a sunny day. There are plenty of things to see and the town is quite small with lots of green areas around. The pictures above and below are of the Engaku-ji temple (wp) just off Kita-Kamakura station. This is one of the most significant Zen buddhist temple complexes in Japan. Apart from the its cultural significance it also boasts beautiful gardens and an opportunity to climb up the hill surrounding it.
Following the Engaku-ji, I went to the Jochi-ji located opposite for more gardens and a small buddha statue...
Since the weather is very good I decided to go for a walk in the woods south of Jochi-ji heading to the big buddha through the woods. Living in the concrete jungle of Tokyo, a walk in the woods is a really pleasant experience but it also means skipping the other temples and sights of Kamakura. But I will be back to se those in more detail later.
Yuigahama beach is also popular place in Kamakura. There are bars along the coast and surfing is very popular here. Even now despite the cold of winter, there are people out here catching waves.
Travel Tip
Kamakura really has a lot to offer and if you are into old Japan or Zen, it is well worth it to book a night in a hotel here to make the most of it. Otherwise you can reach Kamakura from Tokyo on the JR Yokosuka line. The journey from Tokyo station takes about an hour.
If you have the time it is worth getting off at Kita-Kamakura station, one stop before Kamakura and starting your visit here. You can then visit the rest of the city on foot. A map of the best tourist spots of Kamakura is here.
It is also worth keeping an eye on festivals in Kamakura, there are plenty of them and it is a really nice way to experience the town too (link).
