Go To Travel campaign is underway in Japan.
It is government-subsidized campaign to boost traveling industry and recover Japanese economy.
But the procedure is troublesome to get subsidized.
So I decided to carry out my own Go To Japan campaign.
About this time last year foreign tourists were flooded everywhere in Japan.
I wanted to go short trip but TV news about overtourism discouraged me.
Ban on entry of people from overseas is a serious damage to the economy but gave me opportunities to go traveling.
I went to Kamakura last week.
It is an old town, located at southwest of Tokyo, and has a lot of Buddhist temples.
Small local train called Eno-den is very popular and convenient to go Kamakura.
Before the pandemic, it had been so congested with tourists that even local residents could not ride it. But this time I could find empty seats.
At Shichirigahama station I got off and took a walk along the seashore.
This is the Great Buddha, Hase Daibutsu.
It was constructed in the 12th century, when it had been housed. But (if my memory is correct) the house had been washed away by tsunami. Since then he has been sitting under the sun.
Next, I went to Tsurugaoka-hachimangu shrine.
There used to be old huge ginkgo tree, which was destroyed by typhoon a few years ago.
After lunch I walked to Tokei-ji temple.
It locates on a hillside and has nice garden. A few people visited there.
At last, I visited Engaku-ji temple, a famous zen temple. It has huge territory.
Facing to sand garden, this is where people meditate.
Colors of the maple leaves are changing. A month later they will become scarlet.
Thanks to the pandemic, I enjoyed a serene autumn day to my heart’s content.
