Kanagawa-ken, Honshu
Kamakura (鎌倉)
Kamakura is a small city full of historic treasures. Kamakura is a coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture, less than an hour south of Tokyo. Today, Kamakura is a small city and a very popular tourist destination. Sometimes called the Kyoto of eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines and other historical monuments. In addition, Kamakura’s sand beaches attract large crowds during the summer.
Large bronze Buddha Statue
Great Buddha of Kamakura
Daibutsu. The Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura. View of the Great Buddha bronze statue at Kotoku-in temple in Kamakura against a clear blue sky, The second largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan.
With a height of 11.4 meters, it has long been the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tsunami in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since the late 15th century, the Buddha has been standing in the open air. The fact that it sits in the open air makes it unusual amongst large Buddha statues in Japan.
Sandy Beaches
Beaches of Kamakura
Kamakura is home to several sand beaches, which are popular getaways for those who want to escape the nearby cities of Tokyo and Yokohama for some sunbathing, swimming and surfing. The official beach season in Kamakura lasts from July to August.
Located adjacent to each other, Yuigahama and Zaimokuza are Kamakura’s two most popular beaches. They get very crowded during the summer and collectively span about one kilometer, providing a lot of space for sunbathing and swimming.
When we were here, picture 12 Caucasian girls in Japanese School Uniforms. We were inundated with Japanese boys on their school trip outings wanting to take pictures with the Gaijin (foreigners).
The most comical thing was that EVERY SINGLE Japanese boy had this hair style that was so popular in Japan at this time. It was this cross between an 80s inspired rockabilly pompadour with a rat tail in the front over the forehead. BUWAHAHAH.
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