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After Rob’s Tokaido Trail Tokyo diary, day three heads to the small temple town and 12th century capital of Japan, Kamakura. If you want to get an idea as to what happens on our tours and what people get up to, you might like to read on –
Day Three – Kamakura
My major impression so far on this trip was one of how the Japanese are able to balance seemingly contradictory aspects of life. Each new experience was completely different to the one which went before; each new district we visited appeared had its own distinctly unique character. Japan manages to look to the future, whilst keeping one eye firmly on the past. For example, we could be walking in the shadow of the 21st Century neon-lit skyscrapers whilst rubbing shoulders with Tokyo-ites wearing traditional clothing largely unchanged for hundreds of years. If life is a journey, a line drawn between two points, then you cannot truly know where you are headed without fully understanding where you have come from. This is a concept the Japanese seem to grasp far better than any other nation, and I think it’s something we could all learn from.
We had another of these changes in tempo after a short journey on the fantastically efficient JR network to Kamakura, a compact seaside town just along the coast from Tokyo. The rain from the previous night had blessedly cleared, leaving us with pleasantly warm clear blue skies. Kamakura itself provided a welcome change in pace from the bustling metropolis, and a chance to recharge our batteries after the exertions of the previous night. Our hotel, above a family-run sweet shop, gave us a very warm welcome, with complimentary green tea, ice creams, and small bags of delicious bite-size cakes. After a quick lunch of katsu-don, we headed to the sprawling Hasadera Temple. Climbing the hillside complex to the very top, we were rewarded with views over Kamakura and the Pacific Ocean beach front, the clear blue skies being reflected in the waters below.
Onwards to the Great Buddha at Daibutsu, an imposing sight for sure. Paying the small entrance fee, we clambered inside. I read with interest the details over the various techniques used to construct the massive figure, how the segments of bronze are jointed together. I love how the Japanese are able to combine clever, innovative engineering, with a strong sense of aesthetic beauty – form and function combining to stunning effect. This attention to detail permeates down to even the smallest, most innocuous items – Alain demonstrated to me how even a humble Japanese toothpick has been designed to have a removable end section with a small moulded recess, acting as a resting place for your toothpick to avoid it contaminating the table surface – genius!
Whilst the United Kingdom was being battered with wind, rain, hail, and even a light smattering of snow, we had fun larking about on the beach and dipping our toes in the Pacific, being bathed in warm sunshine – looks like we’d picked a good week to come to Japan! We’re still not entirely sure what Alain’s impromptu beach sculpture was all about, but maybe it would have found a suitable home at one of the venues we were to visit the next day….
Not bad for November! Tomorrow see’s Rob and co heading to the Hakone National Park with its mountains and hot springs. I wonder how they get on with the onsen? We shall find out…..Thanks Rob!