 |
All year round, surfers ride the waves along Yuigahama beach, which forms the southern edge of Kamakura. The beach is the subject of a great number of songs and is a popular date spot for young people, particularly in summer. Beyond the beach’s popularity for marine recreation, however, many people say just taking a walk here and absorbing the natural scenery and the vastness of the sea is enough to bring one a sense of calm and openness.
Moving inland, ancient Buddhist temples dot the mountains surrounding the city, most famous among them the group of five Rinzai Zen temples known as the Kamakura Gozan, each of which honors a different Buddhist figure. These five temples were given the highest designation, Gozan, in a temple ranking system emulated from the practices of China’s Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).
Today, regardless of their particular religious beliefs, large numbers of people visit these temples. The temple grounds include Japanese gardens deftly placed to harmonize with the natural environment. Blossoms inclines and birds quench their thirst in streams coursing down the mountainsides. Cool, refreshing air seems to well up from the shadows of lush vegetation. Middle-aged and older women frequently stride by merrily at a brisk pace. Many old couples stroll along together at a more leisurely pace.
Kamakura, with its vast sea and temples built in harmony with their natural surroundings continues to allure people today as it has for centuries. |
