Day 5 A day trip to Kamakura

After breakfast we packed up our suitcases and took them to reception to be sent on ahead to Hiroshima, keeping just the essentials for our remaining two nights in Tokyo.

We headed to Kamakura by train but managed to get on the wrong one, so had to retrace our steps!

Once we finally arrived we walked along an avenue of cherry trees, which will be spectacular once in blossom, to visit the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Everywhere is very busy as it is a Sunday and the weather was beautiful, 24C and blue sky.

Had a delicious lemon drink before facing the ever growing crowds.

Saw another wedding and another bride waiting to get married.

We then walked down Komachi-Dori Street. Past load of little food stalls and yet more capsule toy machines which are a huge trend here. All the girls wear their soft toy/keyring on their bags.

We found a lovely little family run cafe where we had a very tasty lunch and then bought some fresh strawberries from a greengrocer for later on. 

We were tempted by a gelato as well

Meeting the biscuit model, the owners dog, was a bonus

We continued walking to The Great Buddah at Kotoku-in. Amazing how you can loose the crowd by changing the position that you take the photos from!

Then onto a local train to Enoshima, which was absolutely rammed. Walking across the bridge with the hoards to the island

There were lots of noisy boy racers revving their motorbikes and speeding backwards and forwards across the bridge.

The number of people on the island was ridiculous, we could hardly move, but as soon as we started to climb the steps the crowds quickly thinned.

Moving on up the island we left the most people behind and stopped for a cuppa with a view

Then we continued up the hill to the Sea Candle Tower and the gardens.

The views from the top of the tower were worth the climb

As we had arrived later than planned on the island we decided to stay for the sunset. We then went down to the sunset terrace and had a beer whilst watching the sun sinking towards the horizon.

Thrilled to see Mount Fuji appearing through the haze, a rare site from the island.

We wandered back through the gardens and back down the hill as the few remaining visitors were leaving and the shops where shutting up for the day.

Then bought something to eat with our strawberries from the 7-11 and caught the fast train back to Shinjuku station, apparently the busiest train station in the world, 35 platforms on multiple levels, with over 200 exits, but we struggled to find one and it took us an extra 10 minutes to get back to the hotel!