Spiritual Kamakura · 19 Days in Japan

After hectic Tsukiji we decided Kamakura would be a good half-day trip from Tokyo, and it couldn’t have been more soothing.

Mario is his co-pilot. Why not?

We walked to Tokyo station to catch the train.

Local train to Kamakura; it took about 40 minutes which is more than enough to catch some zzzs.

There are some priority seats and in those areas, if you’re holding on to one of these yellow handles, you cannot use your phone. We think it forces you to pay attention to whatever priority passengers you have by your side (pregnant ladies, elderly and disabled people, etc).

Arrived at Kitakamakura, the station next to Engaku-ji, our first stop.

Statuettes inside Engaku-ji.

The Engaku-ji grounds are really big and have many houses.

Engaku-ji crest.

Kamakura is a small city in the Kanagawa prefecture with a sea coast, south of Tokyo, famous for its temples, shrines and beaches, and was once the capital of Japan during the Kamakura period.

Sanmon, the main gate to Engaku-ji.

Priest going to the temple.

Sanmon

Unused shoes forgotten by time.

Luckily we got there by the end of the day, so we were almost by ourselves which makes for an even deeper experience.

Tidily organized.

Buddha statues are object to many offerings.

Shrine inside the temple grounds.

Neko-chan!

Zen garden near the main building.

Can it get more perfect than this?

Priests chanting inside Engaku-ji.

Little shrine way in the back of the grounds, and probably the most magical one.

Another statuette keeps the bad spirits away.

The temples and shrines and its surroundings were what caught our full attention. One feels so small beside such grandiosity, not only in physical size, but spiritual, really. You feel at peace. You can hear yourself think and you are inclined to close your eyes and do so.

We then got on a train that took us to the main Kamakura station. This girl was trying to get her train drivers license.

Shopping street in Kamakura, fantastic vibe!

Dango; traditional sugar and soy sauce on the left, sesame sauce on the right.

Just a normal shop in Kamakura.

They have rickshaws in Kamakura.

Entrance bridge to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu on top of a hill.

Purify yourselves.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.

Miko doing her chores.

Kamakura main street seen from above.

Japanese seen to cultivate spiritual guidance in their children from a young age.

Fortunes

Lena also left her fortune behind.

It was so quiet and peaceful at the end of the day.

When you don’t have sake barrels, use beer boxes!

The end of the day for the rickshaws.

Heading down to the beach.

The plan was to visit the big bronze Buddha statue but we had seen every other temple and shrine and the city itself, so we decided to rest for a bit at the beach. Very relaxing and with a Hawaiian vibe going on all over town, it is a bit different from what we’re used to at home. Very warm and calm water and volcanic black sand are some of its characteristics.