Kamakura, Yokohama harbor and Kawagoe

Kamakura is a popular place for tourists to visit. It is the home to a lot of temples, shrines, statues and more. I have actually gotten the opportunity to visit Kamakura twice already. First time I went was with the Toyama family - my fathers old work acquaintance’s wife’s sister’s family. They are a really wonderful family who has taken me to several places. Takashi is the father, Noriko the mother, Mizuki the daughter (left) and on this day Mizuki’s friend Kaori (right) joined us.

The weather was good and it was on the weekend, so a lot of people had decided on visiting Kamakura on this particular day. Therefore it took us a while to get there, but it was worth it!

We visited the big Buddha statue, which we also went into. On this day the sun was scorching, and you could almost not touch the wall facing the sunny side, it was so warm!

After the big Buddha statue we went on to a little area up on a mountainside. Lastly to another populated area with a shrine where we were lucky enough to behold a wedding ceremony.

We took the car back to the Yokohama area and went to Minato-mirai and the Yokohama Landmark Tower. The top floor where you could stand and let yourself be enchanted by the night lights was around 275 meters up in the air. This wonderful day was rounded off with a great meal down on the bottom floor.

The second time I visited Kamakura was with the Kanagawa Systematized Goodwill Guide (KSGG). We first landed at the Kitakamakura station, and met everyone in a very nice valley, at the Engaku-ji. The guides were very good and knowledgeable. After this we headed on over to the same shrine I visited with Toyama family, then to lunch, then to the big Buddha. So it some of it I had already experienced, but I got a day together with friends, pleasant guides and other new people!

A few weeks later there was going to be held a festival in Kawagoe. Kawagoe-matsuri. I went there together with some YSEP friends. Jasmin and Miika from Finland, and Ting-yu from Taiwan. We was there for a whole day, and the whole day it rained. We still managed to have fun! First we walked around until we found a good place to have lunch at, after which we roamed the streets for a couple of hours. We entered shops with ridiculously expensive chop-sticks and other shops with a lot of handmade crafts. 

Ting-yu had planned ahead some, so we followed her plan which took us to a castle-building. Real たたみ (tatami) and a very interesting atmosphere. You got the feeling of going back in time. They have these really beautiful gardens, and it feels surreal and real at the same time. Indescribable feeling.

We headed back to the middle of town to find something to eat. Eventually we decided on おこのみやき(okonomiyaki). At this point there was supposed to be a big final event of the festival, but this was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather.
It did not break our spirits though. Another day, another adventure.

More of my Kamakura pictures can be found here.

And if you want the Kawagoe-pictures, goe here.

Life in Aobadai

View from our lab in Ookayama

Now I have been in Japan for a little over a month and am really starting to get into the rhythm of things. Every day leaving the dormitory for school, squeezing into the crowded train, and in the evening returning on an even more crowded train - regardless of if you are returning at 17 or at 23. We have around a 10 minute walk to the station, and about 1 hour door-to-door from dorm to campus.

View from dorm balcony

Most of my time is spent on or around campus, or on adventures in Tokyo. Though I have had the chance to go explore our little Aobadai a few times. Aobadai is actually situated in Yokohama which is the second most populated city in Japan after Tokyo. I have taken a few walks, and gone for a few runs.

There are somewhat many people walking about in Aobadai but not nearly as many as if you get closer to Tokyo, or if you go southeast in Yokohama. Which is why it is quite calm and peaceful out here. Supermarkets and restaurants are plentiful. Nearby the Aobadai Station is a department store called Tokyu Square, and there we have electronics shops, clothing stores, and much more. Also in Tokyu Square is the supermarket Fuji Garden which is the foodstore I usually visit. If you take the walk from the station to our dorm, Shofu, then you will find yourself walking past at least four more supermarkets.

The price of food from the store here is close to what it is back in Sweden, though slightly cheaper. But any readymade food is extremely cheap! Just yesterday morning I bought two bento-boxes for 525 JPY in total (35 SEK). So sometimes cooking feels like too much of a hassle. Also, our kitchen only has a gas stove with two spots. I feel very limited without my good ol’ oven back home. But it does not stop me from cooking every now and then.

Shofu

Umegaoka

Though more expensive restaurants can easily be found. We have a nice burger joint called Freshness Burger, and tomorrow some friends and I will try しゃぶしゃぶ (shabu-shabu). Exciting!

The dormitory is very affordable and conditions here are decent. Most time is spent by my desk, at the ping pong table in the common room, or in my bed. For birthdays and other such events us YSEP students usually meet up at the other dormitory, in Umegaoka, which is about a 30 minute walk from our dorm. I hope I will survive this dormitory for 10 more months.

cheers
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