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date: 2023-04-22
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I call this one "trip zero", because it was very much a trial run for me. The
effects of having just moved to Japan for the year were still fresh, getting
used to working from new places without consistent access to an office and the
altogether unfamliarness of my life just made me not feel like exploring quite
yet.
Kamakura is a common day-trip from Tokyo and a quick 1.5h train ride from my
home near Asakusa. The weather was pretty meh that day, very cloudy and it
looked like it would rain any moment.
I had left the house earlier without breakfast, so off I went to the next
Lawson to get myself some. For some reason I decided to get a
Katsu-Sandwich[^sando], which is out of character for me - I usually go for
Onigiri - and then to have it on the beach nearby. Seeing as i was the only
person _eating_ anything there should've been hint enough. As soon as I sat down
to take a bite, something comes dashing down past my head. I am obviously
startled but not prepared for the bird to come back to actually pick the
sandwich out of my hand this time around.
[^sando]: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KatsuSando6515.jpg
There's a dude with a bike nearby, who looks at me with the same expression i
feel like i must have on my face. but he just shrugs and goes back to minding
his own business. you've got to love japan for that mentality - if this was
e.g. NZ i am sure he would've come over to ask me if i am fine. which i am, of
course... otherwise i would've very much asked for help myself!
There were a few birds circling overhead just waiting for me to unwrap more
food. Closer inspection reveals that the creature that just stole my bread must
have been some kind of eagle (or another bird of prey i can't name). This is
quite a bit different to the crows and pidgeons i am used to - and a bit scary
tbh. To have my breakfast in peace I just walk off into town again. Staying
away from open spaces for a bit 😄
On my way back to the centre of town, I find a bucket of see-through plastic
umbrellas [^umbrella] outside what looked like a beauty saloon, with a sign
telling passer-bys to take one (in Japanese ofc). I guess the visibly imminent
rain made the shop keeper put them out there for tourists (conveniently helping
him get rid of *what was probably left behind by his own clients*). Naturally I
picked one up: This umbrella would be with me for the next months.
[^umbrella]: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%82%98_(7374668616).jpg
There isn't really that much to say about the big Buddha[^buddha], in the end
it's just a large statue (that you can go inside of for a fee).
[^buddha]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtoku-in
Despite the weather there was a surprising amount of tourists and I wanted to
get out of the bustle, so I followed the street that had let to the kōtoku-in
temple area. A bit further I came to some stairs next to one of the tunnels
that lead out of the Kamakura city area, cutting through the surrounding hills.
OrganicMaps told me there was a hiking path up there, which I could take to
circle back towards the train station.
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