Sorry about the big break everyone. My time in Tokyo came to an end a couple of weeks ago.
It was pretty difficult to say goodbye, but I have a ridiculous amount of great memories, new friends, creative collaborations and general Japan Life Experience™ to take away from my year abroad. I'm giving myself around four months before I'm back for a winter visit.
One of the little trips I took during my last whirlwind weekend involved jumping on a train and heading down to Kamakura. The place is well-known for its giant Buddha, tranquil bamboo forest and popular beaches, but we decided to skip those and go for a bush walk. Getting off the train at Kita-Kamakura station, we hopped on the temple trail which meanders through the forest to eventually end at south Kamakura. In our sleepy, hungover state we were perhaps not entirely prepared for an actual hiking trail, but in the end it was worth it as we were taken through one of the most beautiful areas of the Shonan coast.
In the photos you can see Kaizo-ji Temple and Zeniarai Benten. At Kaizo-ji you can smash small clay plates on a rock to let go of whatever's bothering you, and at Zeniarai Benten you can wash all your cash and it will in fact "multiply" (results may vary). Quite a useful couple of temples.
After getting out of the scrub we took the peaceful backstreets down to Yuigahama Beach. Along the way we stopped at a cafe which appeared out of nowhere, right when we felt like coffee and scones. We finished up with cold drinks at one of the many pop-up summer beach bars at Yuigahama, and we all decided that we could "retire" at Kamakura.
E.
