Kamakura is like a mini version of Kyoto. Its main attraction are the temples, the beaches and an aquarium. However, the temples are probably not as glam or famous as those in Kyoto. Also from some tourist pictures, it looks like you can have a good view of Mount Fuji along the beach (I wonder if that was photoshopped!).
Going there
The good thing about Kamakura is that it takes around 1 hour of train ride from Tokyo station, so its a good get away from Tokyo and the city. Tim and Kok Kit was in Tokyo the other day, so we took one day to see Kamakura. From the Tokyo station, you take the Yokosuka Line of East JR line. Its the same train that brings you to Narita Airport, only now we are travelling the other way instead. The ticket is 890 yen. I would recommended a bit more comfort and pay additional 930 yen for the green car. This gives you reserved seating and it a more comfortable ride. If not then its standard local train comfort for you, if you know what I mean.
Here is a good site about Kamakura -> http://kamakuratoday.com/e/
The Yokosuka line takes to via Yokohama to Kamakura. However, you must check the destination of the train before you board. If you board the train that stops at Ofuna (大船) then you have to take another train to continue you way to Kamakura. There is a map at the platform, be sure to check out the route before boarding. You travel along the Enoden line, a tram-train, when you reach Kamakura to your destinations.
Alternatively, you can take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku station to Fujisawa station. The disadvantage of this is that its longer than from Tokyo station and Fujisawa stop it at the other end of Kamakura. Whereas if you stop at Kamakura stop, you can already start exploring and the Daibutsu temple is only about 2-3 stops away. The trouble is that the Enoden trams are slooow and the wait can be long. So its going to take a while to get from Fujisawa station to where you want to go. Btw, if you are travelling by Odakyu line, than you can pay more to upgrade to the “romance car”, it definitely more comfortable than your local train, but I found that the “romance car” to Hakone is definitely nicer!
Its probably best that you get some rail pass for this. A check on the internet shows that there are 2 different pass, one from JR and the other from Odakyu. Choose which you think best suits you, but which ever you choose, you should save some money.
check this out -> http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_003.html
Oh, one thing you should remember, like most parts of towns (other than the big cities) most attractions close their doors at 5 pm! Even the aquarium close at 5 pm! Those lucky buggers! So you should make your trip early in the morning.
The Quick Tour
As usual, we went about noon time and only managed 2 attractions. Also because we took a lot of time whilst walking through one of their main shopping streets towards our first attractions. One of the reasons I like about Kamakura is that numerous arts and craft you can buy there. Some you don’t see in Tokyo. I couldn’t help myself and bought a pair of ceramic boy monk craft (actually Tim paid for them!). There were more stuff that I wanted, but had to contend with window shopping, as I didn’t want to jam up my luggage coming back to Singapore.
There is also a wide range of food stuff for sales and what’s more some of the shops allows you to sample before you buy. This gives me a good chance to try out the different preserved vegetables on sale. Above on the left, this shop sells preserved vegetables and fish. You can have a full meal sampling on it, except that you probably need to drink after that. Above on the right is a shop selling different types of nuts, as I am not really a nut fan, I like Tim and Kok Kit stake it out instead. They also had like sweet version so katsu (カツ) but instead of meat they are filled with yam, beans or sweet potatoes and the likes. Didn’t manage to try it out though.
The strangest food I have seen so far is buddha image snacks! This is as serious as they get about Buddhism here, I guess. Its weird to me, I mean who would eat their religious leader or “god” like ganesh as a snack? Japanese seems to like it.
Anyway as I have said, we only managed 2 attractions. Above left is Hachimangu, a stone’s throw away from Kamakura station. Just following the crowd and you will walk through the shopping areas and that’s where we got stuck. Above right is the Daibutsu (big buddha), its 3 stations from Kamakura at Hase station. Again, follow the crowd, you can’t miss it. By the time we are done at the Daibutsu temple, its nearly 5 pm, sun was setting
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