Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo and some bites here and there

[love_the_life]

Rather a playful approach to lunch - almost with a Heston air.

 

[KitKat]

Rather a playful approach to lunch - almost with a Heston air.

Yep, just a fun lunch

 

[KitKat]

Today it is a day trip - off to Kamakura

Should have been quite an easy 1 hour journey to Kamakura but due to some issues on the Yokosuka line we were not moving at all shortly after leaving Shinagawa station.
After being stationary for more than half an hour, the train started its journey down to Kamakura again.

Soon we arrived at the Kamakura Station and changed to the Enoden line.


waiting for the Enoden electric car... love the way everyone is so orderly

Took the electric train towards Hase to visit Hase-dera and Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

After a short ride, we walked up the road towards Hase-dera


great weather for a walk and lots of visitors in Kamakura today

After a 5 minute walk we were at Hase-dera

Entrance to Hase-dera

 

[KitKat]

some sights within the temple

 

[KitKat]

obligatory cherry blossoms

they even grow out of the trunks


view of the sea and Kamakura from Hase-dera

 

[KitKat]

Temple garden

little figurines within Benten-kutsu cave within the temple complex

 

[KitKat]

love this one with contrasting colours

Next destination would be the Daibutsu


looks like you could get a Kebab in Kamakura


entrance to Daibutsu




Second biggest bronze buddha in Japan
Cast in 1252
Originally was within a building like the Great Buddha in Nara but apparently outer building was washed away in tsunamis... it is quite far from the beach so if this is true the waves must have travelled quite far inland

 

[KitKat]

It is possible to enter the Buddha for a fee


nothing much here except the Great Buddha

 

[KitKat]

Getting close to lunch time now and I had spied an interesting snack on the road to Daibutsu

Octopus cracker!

marinated octopus

it is placed between two hot plates and compressed under high pressure
the heat and pressure results in a flat octopus "chip"


Cutting octopus chip into serving size

Finished product - tasty octopus cracker

PCR 8

 

[KitKat]

more snacking on the way to lunch



not bad PCR 7



cherry jellies - soft, juicy PCR 7
*really enjoy japanese confectionary as they are not as sweet

Took us about 30 minutes to slowly walk back to centre of Kamakura
Nice walking weather

getting crowded near the centre

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, Kitkat, for the trip report again - great photos. We have just booked flights for next Easter! Very much looking forward to seeing the blossoms. Unfortunately hubby is very fussy with food, so it will not be a gastronomic extravaganza. Instead it will be the scenery.

 

[GladstoneTim]

Did you get a refund for the delayed train?

 

[KitKat]

Thanks, Kitkat, for the trip report again - great photos. We have just booked flights for next Easter! Very much looking forward to seeing the blossoms. Unfortunately hubby is very fussy with food, so it will not be a gastronomic extravaganza. Instead it will be the scenery.

You will love your trip, very nice time to visit even though it's busy

 

[KitKat]

Did you get a refund for the delayed train?

Nope, no refund. It was a commuter train and we used our Suica

 

[KitKat]

Just north of the Kamakura train station is the main shopping street

Managed to find a small tonkatsu place


Simple lunch PCR 6
Essential when travelling to plan your pit stops well - clean but small bathroom was available


There were these purple soft serve ice creams being sold - it seems they are sweet potato flavoured
Got my hands onto one - unfortunately was not impressed, very mild flavour only if any
Disappointed PCR 3


walking north we arrived at Tsurugoaka Hachiman-gu

 

[KitKat]

obligatory pink cherry blossom pic again






We were getting a little tired by then so we left Kamakura mid-afternoon to avoid the rush later
Return journey was much smoother, easy ride up to Shinagawa, all of us even managed to get seats

 

[KitKat]

cherry blossoms are everywhere... this is a picture beside the train tracks near the Ebisu station on the walk back to the Westin

Time for some rest before we go out again for Dinner

This time it is for some sushi..

 

[KitKat]

Despite having been there, as we came out from a different metro station, it took a while to find the place - Sushi Yo****ake (seems the name gets censored..)



was ushered into this corridor which led to another room
As we were in a group of 4 we were given a private room
I think we had the apprentice serve us today - shame as was looking forward to see the boss again


Fresh wasabi - just about to be grated


towel to clean our hands

eagerly anticipating...

 

[KitKat]

Hamaguri clams (must be seasonal... as we seem to eat it everywhere)
PCR 6.5 good texture but not amazing


some sake to go with the sashimi and sushi


skewering golden eye snapper to be lightly grilled

finished product: golden eye snapper
PCR 8.5 this was good, nice smoky flavour, sweetness of the fish, savoury skin

 

[KitKat]

Next up, the dish that I came for..

Yo****ake's signature marinated octopus


PCR 9.5 very tender octopus with full of flavours (best octopus we have ever had)


cutting up the abalone

very tender abalone
PCR 8.5

Abalone liver sauce with sushi rice
PCR 7.5 quite nice but just seemed to lack the full flavours after having had the abalone above