There comes a moment in your Tokyo routine when you need to take a step out of the city and embrace the green-ness around the capital. Away from the concrete and to Kamakura we went. Kamakura is a very popular destination, about one hour away from the city center. It is very well known for its giant buddha, Daibutsu, and for its zen temples. Just what Fiona and I needed to rinse off the city dust! While the weather was not as beautiful as we had hoped, we were lucky to be close to alone to visit the zen temples. The silence and beauty of the surrounding nature, and the spirituality of the temples, was definitely a relaxing experience.
Under an unpleasant gray sky, we started off our visit at Kita-Kamakura. You can also start your visit at Kamakura, and work your way to the many temples of the area. About 50m from the mini station of Kita-Kamakura, we entered the Engakuji zen temple. No one in sight but two or three couples. Had the sun peaked from behind the clouds, we would have dropped our bags and stayed there, under the leave roofs overlooking the temple. It was beautifully calm, a truly soothing experience. The tones of green around us were mesmerizing, and created a very Japanese zen atmosphere.
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| Ticket to Engakuji temple |
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Stairs to the temple
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| Zen Japanese beauty |
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| More of Engaku-ji |
Next, we headed towards Tôkei-ji and Jôchi-ji, on the other side of the train tracks. We adventured towards Genjiyama Park and followed the Daibutsu Hiking course, leading to the Kuzuharagao-ka sanctuary. We walked, and walked, and walked, on a jungle-y path, hurrying to arrive at the Daibutsu before sunset.
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| Up we go |
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| In the jungle |
We walked and walked and walked in a tree tunnel, and finally reached the road to the Daibutsu. We hurried to the temple and barely made it before closing time. I therefore advise everyone to arrive before closing time, 17:30PM, so as to not be kicked out by the Daibutsu guards.
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| For big buddha, keep walking |
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Big buddha and little buddha
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As great as this getaway was, we were relieved to step on the JR back to Tokyo, as Kamakura became dark and colder. We were tired but happy, ready for our gyoza soup waiting at home.
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| Bye bye green |
