Day 7 - Kamakura

So I got up this morning to go to Takayama and I had a thought, I remember vaguely booking accomodation for Shirakawago for Friday - which was why I thought it was a bit expensive.. this would mean that Takayama would be for Thursday.. and sure enough I found my booking confirmation and it WAS Thursday.. so... lucky we didn't go to Takayama!

Instead S and I decided to go to Kamakura which is an old capital of Japan, famous for its many Zen and Shinto Shrines/Temples and its beach.

When I go on holidays, a lot of the "must see" attractions are usually old, and religously based. In Europe, it was churches, and in Japan its Temples and shrines. I don't have a problem with Churches and Temples as attractions, but I do notice that after a few, they all seem the same. Often, I'll hear that people are "all churched out" or in Japan "all templed out". For some reason we seem to force ourselves to go to these shrines and churches, knowing that after the first 2 or 3, we will quickly lose interest and are mostly going through the motions. At least thats what I find. It's only the really special ones tha seem to pull me out of my stupor, and in Kamakura, there weren't that many amazing incidents.

Part of the problem today was the fact that it was really hot and humid and sweating my way through various temples did not add to my enjoyment. I won't try and name all the temples we went to, but we crossed about 7 of the 'top 10' temples in Kamakura off the list.
Highlights included a temple with a really nice garden:


and a temple with an amazing mural on the roof:


The most interesting "legend" of the day was a temple where supposedly if you wash your money in the waters of the spring there, when you spend the money, you will get the money returned to you more than double! S and I being the high rollers we are, washed about 300 Yen, and are eagerly awaiting our profits. We saw a guy wash about 10 10,000 Yen bills and was drying them above a bunch of burning incense - apparently you have to let the money dry naturally... its amazing what people will believe isn't it?

Kamakura is also famous for Purple Sweet Potato, and every second shop sold sweet potato croquets and sweet potato ice cream, as well as a yellow 'baked sweet potato' version. As I waited in line for my ice-cream I noticed that each one was perfectly shaped and sized. This is compared to Macccas soft serves where you will occasionally have the lopsided ones or differing sizes... (They are a bit wonky at the top cos we took a bite each before remembering to take the photo)

We then bumped into some of S's friends and ended up going to the 'beach'. It really makes you appreciate what we have in Sydney with our beaches when this is what they call a good beach here..


I think we would call it dirt and muddy water. The most amusing thing about this experience was the LONG line of japanese girls waiting to get access to 4 mirrors and blowdryers in a large pavillion. They want to go to the beach but they are willing to go to the efforts of reapplying make-up before they leave. Respect.

The food highlight of the day was buying a large box of sushi from the local supermarket to take home for dinner for 590 Yen, or $9 AUD (The big box below)



Tomorrow: Takayama and Shirakawago!