Big Budda

Trip Start Apr 01, 2003
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Trip End Apr 14, 2003


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Flag of Japan  ,
Wednesday, February 5, 2003

I took the train out past Yokohama for an hour to Kamakura a beach town on the coast. It was midday by the time I arrived so I decided to get some lunch and head down to eat it on the beach. I brought some take-away sushi and sat down on the beach watching the many surfers out in the swells. Then all of a sudden I got swooped by a massive bird and then another. I got up to see that there were hundreds of hawk type birds flying above the beach. I quickly made it back to the promenade and then watched as the birds kept attacking people, going for their food. The birds were also going for small dogs, with their owners blissfully unaware. It was pretty mad.


After lunch I headed to the Daibutsu (Great Budda), Kamukara's most famous sight. The giant statue now sits outside after having it house washed away in a Tsunami in 1495. The massive bronze cast statue is almost 12 meters tall.
After this I visited the Hase-dera, where there is a collection of little statues of Jizo, which are the protector of travellers. There was also the statue of the goddess Kannon.


After this I went on a hike around some of the 70 shrines around the area including Engaku-Ji, Tokei-Ji, Jochi-Ji and Kencho-Ji amongst others.
Kamukara turned out to be a nice place to chill out from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, even with the birds eyeing up my lunch.
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