Kamakura is a well-known and well-loved destination to many Japan residents and visitors, here are some tips for how to avoid crowds and seek out more sustainable options might be useful to you on your next trip. It is a very important destination for its heritage, history, traditions and religion- but it is also worth seeking out for its diversity of appeal and hippy, sustainable innovation vibe. Watch the video here.
There is so much to explore and I learn new things on each trip. This is a very simple introduction that I hope will point you in the right direction to dive into researching your next wonderful trip to this special place.
In the video, I mentioned many visitors misunderstanding of the MANJI (Swastika) symbol at the pond that has been used in Buddhism for over 1500 years, but has been misrepresented during WW2 as a symbol of hate. Here is an interesting article about how T.K Nakagaki, a Buddhist monk from Japan started to share information about the symbol's original meaning of good fortune while in the US: https://www.lionsroar.com/226988-2/
T.K Nakagaki's book available on Stone Bridge Press: https://www.stonebridge.com/catalog-2020/The-Buddhist-Swastika-and-Hitler's-Cross
ShoutOuts:
MyMizu clean, good, drinkable water for water bottle refills in Japan- download the MyMizu app
Recommended:
Garden House Kamakura - 1st restaurant I visited in Japan to ban plastic straws, have smoke-free outdoor eating spaces in the garden and you can find some of Ingrid's signature handmade soaps and beauty products there. Google Map: https://g.page/gardenhouse-kamakura
Magokoro Organic Dining - along the coast road, sit upstairs at the counter for ocean views. Staff friendly and offered to make almost anything on the menu for vegan or vegetarian diners. https://goo.gl/maps/Vt1QgfM3rmUM1x7u7
Kosaiken gu - not open now, but I'm hoping they will open again for wonderful vegan and vegetarian foods - limited seating and diners eat in their house kitchen it seems, I always appreciate a good plant-based meal here. https://goo.gl/maps/ke2apvGk7rPnUZZz7
Tips -
Get to the most popular sites like the Daibutsu (BigBuddha) as soon as they open and avoid going to any top site around Japan between peak hours of 9am-2pm.
If you are walking around Kamakura and the road you are on is crowded, try a parallel road that will still take you to the shrine or temple you are heading to, less crowds and you can often make wonderful discoveries like the gourmet honey shop I found, antique shops, traditional souvenir and sweets shops, art galleries and museums. I wish Google maps and other technology would suggest using these side streets instead of main streets during crowded times (like they already do for drivers using GPS navigation on maps).
Enjoy shade on a mountain hike, or forest shrine or temple- Kamakura is blessed with many wonderful options where you can enjoy the stunning combination of nature, architecture, tradition and culture in perfect combinations in any season. The official Kamakura website has easy to navigate hiking routes and maps in English: https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/visitkamakura/en/routes/hiking1.html
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