Kamakura, enoshima, and more
The Olympics have finally begun :) I’ve been glued to the TV these past few days flipping channels not to miss out on any events! Did any of you watch the opening ceremony with the drones and pantomimes of the event pictograms? I’d say they were the highlights of the ceremony. I’ll be volunteering in the shooting range starting this week so I hope to share about that experience too:)
Right around a month ago, I visited Kamakura and Enoshima with Joey for a mini weekend getaway! Apart from the scorching summer heat and occasional cloudy weather, we had a good time exploring the area :D Here are some highlights of the trip that I’d recommend to you if you ever have the chance to visit the area!
Cycling around the beaches of Enoshima
Once reaching the Katase-enoshima station, you’ll cross the bridge and there you’ll see the little island of Enoshima right ahead. Before taking the long walk to the island, if you take a turn to your right or left, you’ll reach the elongated shores of the Katase Higashihama and Nishihama beaches. There’s a nice path all across the beach where you can take your bike and ride with the beautiful view of the ocean :) If you don’t want to go for a swim, it’s also just as nice to sit by the shore and stare ahead to the open view in front of you!
2. Greeting the buddhas in Kamakura
If you take the Enoshima dentetsu trains to Kamakura from Enoshima station, you can visit several shrines one after the other since there’s a couple scattered around the area. We went to Hasedera, where you can see Japan’s biggest wooden Buddha, Kotokuin, known for its Great Buddha, and Kenchoji, a temple with a tranquil atmosphere about 25 minutes by foot from the Great Buddha. I especially liked Hasedera with its beautiful hydrangeas and amazing view from the top. There are lots of steps you have to climb to get there but it’s worth the extra effort, you have my word :)
3. Taking breaks in cafes, restaurants, and food stands
Eating away was one the best moments of the trip. We went and tried all kinds of food from freshly baked bread to ice cream with whitebait! The area is famous for whitebait so there’s many shops specializing in whitebait bowls, which is also a must if you go. We got the bowl with both raw and boiled whitebait, and I still remember how amazingly tasty it was :) The area has many privately owned restaurants to choose from, and I think you’d get an awesome experience wherever you decide to go to.
Those are my recommendations of things to do if you have the chance to visit Kamakura and Enoshima. Make sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen if you visit in the summer!