kamakura

the bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo passes just south of Mt Fuji, so we got a great view through the windows. it stands alone (as someone accurately described it to us later), full of some great metaphor about Japan as a whole.

we got off the shinkansen on the outskirts of Tokyo and headed south on a local line to the little beach town of Kamakura. it's a funny place, where the laid-back beach/surfer lifestyle mixes with Japenese culture, plus tourists. we walked over to the 765-year-old Great Buddha statue, which was pretty big but not as big as Nara's. we got to go inside it for only 40 yen.

while we were sitting nearby, we met an affable local guy who spoke French, English, and a little German. we chatted a bit about Canada and Japan, and then he asked if he could take our photo for the local newspaper. he got three shots: one in front of a wall, one in front of the Buddha's giant woven-straw sandals, and one with the Buddha himself in the background.

then we visited Hase-dera temple (not to be confused with Hasedera temple), which had hydrangeas, an eleven-headed statue of Kannon, and a cave with statues carved into the rock walls. from there we walked down to the beach, waded in the surf, tried to catch another glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance, and found a washed-up jellyfish.

we slurped one last ramen dinner, then headed home. we fly out this afternoon!

a quick phone pic of Mt Fuji (we got much better views in real life)

 

sutras at Hase-dera temple

prayers on oyster shells