Kamakura, Japan

July 16, 2015 -- Yokohama to Kamakura

I thought I had slept for a long time and was surprised to find out that it was actually 3:00AM when I woke up. Couldn't go back to sleep, just listening to the heavy rain outside. When I finally got up at 5, I looked out the window and saw that it was very cloudy and rainy. I suppose we will have to cancel our trip to Kamakura today.

We had an early breakfast down on the second floor lounge/breakfast room, because we all woke up before 4. Breakfast was fine, no Japanese menu, to my surprise, but everything was fresh and healthy. Bread that was warm and soft, hot soup, colorful salad, creamy scrambled eggs, all very fresh for a good start of a day. A coffee maker that serves fresh ground coffee one cup at a time, nice!

healthy salad

yogurt with peaches

After breakfast, the rain stopped. We decided that we should just try our luck and go ahead with our original plan which was to go to Kamakura to see the great buddha. We had to take the metro (Minato Mirai Line) to Yokohama Station, then take the JR train (Yokosuka Line) to Kamakura, then take the local Enoden Line from Kamakura Station to Hase, where the Great Buddha is. Since we will be using public transportation quite a lot on this trip we planned on getting the Suica card for everyone so we won't have to purchase tickets every time at each station. Suica is one of the pre-paid e-money cards for transportation and shopping in Japan. Works like the octopus or oyster card in London, much easier, less hassle and the card is valid for ten years if you don't want to turn it back in for the 500 yen deposit at the end of your trip. (Use up the balance before turning in the card for the 500 yen refund because there is a 220 yen handling fee taken from the remaining balance on your card. Buy snacks, drinks, etc. at the convenience store will work.)

The Bashamichi Station for Minato Mirai Metro Line is right beneath our hotel. They did not sell Suica card there so we had to buy tickets one at a time. With the help of a nice employee, we got it done even though it took us longer than it should.

The walls of the station was nicely decorated.

Minato Mirai trains.

Inside the train.

We got our Suica cards at the Yokohama station using the machines there. The card proved to be a convenient asset on this trip.

From Yokohama Station, we took the Yokosuka Line to Kamakura. We got on a train that stopped somewhere before Kamakura and we were told that we had to get off. The locals knew what they were doing but all the foreigners were looking at each others not understanding what was going on. Fortunately,we were able to catch the next train to Kamakura without any problem.

After getting off the JR train at Kamakura station, we took a little walk to the connected Enoden Line station for a short ride to Hase.

So cute!

Arrived at the Enoden Line Hase Station.

As we walked out of the Hase station, it started to rain again but there's no return now. 

Fortunately, the walk to the Great Buddha was not that far.

By the time we reached the temple, the rain stopped.

I have heard that there's a hike up to the Great Buddha, but I did not find the 'hike'. It was just an easy, flat walk. Unless we have used a different entrance or route, which did not seem likely.

Map of the temple (Kotokuin Temple), better known as Kamakura Daibutsu, belongs to the Jodo Buddhist sect.

The Great Buddha was not as big as I thought. 

This 11,31 meter tall, gilt bronze seated statue was commenced in 1252, originally covered with gold leaf. The building that used to house this statue was destroyed by repeated disasters. Now it's sitting outdoors.

The pine tree that was planted by a prince from Siam.

The temple in the back.

Entrance fees and opening hours posted.

We figured that we were there already we might as well walk to the Hasedera Temple (Great Kannon) on our way back to the train station. This is where we turned on the main street.

This clock was right by the street.

A building on the right side of the temple.

It looked like there's a climb up and we all decided not to take the challenge. 

Hasedera Temple is famous for its statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, the statue of Kannon with eleven heads.

We just sat there for a while admiring the buildings and used the clean, public restrooms outside before heading back to the Hase station.

We could have spent more time in the city of Kamakura itself, but I thought it might be too much for our elderly members. There seems to be so much to see in Kamakura which I would love to explore more of. But, we have other plans for the afternoon still, so we went back to the Hase station and took the Enoden Line and JR back to Yokohama. Then from Yokohama we took another train to Shin Yokohama station. Next adventure--Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama.