Long Weekend Vacation - Day 03/04: Tokyo, Japan

We had our brekkie before we started our day trip, and this trip to Tokyo captured one of my favorite day trips in Japan – a short escape from Tokyo to Kamakura. What started as a simple train ride turned into a full day of temples, seaside walks and shopping streets. 

With just an easy one-hour train ride from Tokyo, we were greeted by the quaint seaside city of Kamakura. From quiet mornings in Kamakura to sea views near Enoshima, the day was filled with history, good food, ocean air and lots of walking. 

The first place we visited was Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura and it was just a short walk from the train station.

Kamakura has a lot of street food on offer. We made our way back to Kamakura Station to walk through Komachi-dori Street. This lively street is packed with cafés, restaurants, food stalls and souvenir shops. 

We settled our lunch at Kamakura Karari 鎌倉からり, and we were the only foreigners in the restaurant. It is definitely a Hidden Gem that Only Locals Know About. 

This simple eatery place offers a delightful and authentic dining experience that perfectly blends traditional Japanese flavors with a cozy atmosphere.

I love their chilled soba noodles, making it a perfect choice for a refreshing yet satisfying meal.

After lunch, we took the train again and got off a few stops away at Hase Station, and walked to our second sight-seeing attraction - Kotoku-in Temple which housed the famous big Buddha statue.

We did more walking by heading back to the Enoden line and travelled to Enoshima, a small island which is linked to the mainland by a footbridge.

We took photos against Enoshima Sea Candle lighthouse.

The next stop and also our final station of the day - Kurakōkōmae Station. It is famous for the fabulous sunsets and view of Mount Fuji during the winter period.

If you are a fan of the well-loved basketball anime series Slam Dunk!, you’ll be glad to know that the opening scene of the anime, which features a train with a picturesque backdrop of the beach, is modeled after a train station in Kamakura. We took some photos of the scenic train, and we were perhaps lucky that the crowd was manageable at Kurakōkōmae Station for the iconic photo spot of the Slam Dunk Crossing.

Kamakura is a really fun and easy day trip from Tokyo and it’s worth doing to experience a different side of Japan. It has this special balance of culture and coastline that makes every visit feel refreshing and memorable.

We made our way back to Tokyo, and we headed straight to Ikebukuro Station for more shopping and to have our dinner as well. 

We had our meal at Egg Restaurant OMS which is located within Ikebukuro Parco. It is a popular specialty omelette rice (omurice) restaurant. 

Next morning, we had our breakfast at the hotel. As usual, we did some last-minute shopping on our last half day in Tokyo. 

We had our lunch at Oyakodon Senmonten Marukatsu before leaving for the airport. 

We picked up a favourite treat of ours, the 'Ohagi Sand' from one of the Japanese confectioneries located within the Ginza area.

It is literally a 'sandwich' of sweet azuki (red bean) paste between two rice crackers, and it offer a mix of sweet and savory taste at the same time. 

At the airport, we shared a noodles set for our dinner before boarding.

It has been a few months since I came back from Tokyo, and I can’t help but find myself missing Japan while writing this blog post. Well I guess, I will plan another holiday to Japan next year. Till we meet again, JAPAN!