Egg Salad Sandwiches In Kamakura, Japan

It was our first glimpse of the the great bronze Buddha at Kamakura, but the statue felt strangely familiar. The monument is one of the most identifiable sights in Japan and, a short train ride from Tokyo, one of the most visited. It had been on our list of places to explore for a long time. The 44 ft tall sculpture is a relic of the era in the 12th and 13th centuries when all of Japan was ruled by the shoguns of Kamakura who filled the town with spectacular architecture, temples and shrines. The Great Buddha was originally housed in a temple, but that building was destroyed by a tsunami in the 15th century. The statue having survived much better than the temple built to protect it, it was decided to leave it in the open air, which is how it stands to this day.

Kamakura is a town filled with religious buildings and shrines - we could have spent days touring them. The hard part was selecting those that we could visit in the time available. The Hasedara temple is built on a hill overlooking the city and we walked up a slope through a very pretty garden with fish-ponds to reach the main shrine. There are statues of several Buddhist deities and an area where devotees leave small statues of Jizo, popularly believed to be an enlightened being who is a protector of children and travellers.

Ennoji is a small temple tucked away on a hillside that we reached after climbing a steep staircase. It has a single hall lined with wooden carvings of the judges of the underworld who decide the fate of the souls of the dead. In the centre is Enma, a terrifying figure who passes the final judgement. Kenchoji is the oldest and greatest of the five Zen temples in Kamakura. It consists of several buildings and gardens that sprawl up the hillside, ending in an observation deck that gives a view of the entire complex. The great temple bell, cast in bronze in the 13th century, has been declared one of Japan’s National Treasures.

Kamakura is often compared to Kyoto because of its abundance of temples, shrines, and historical monuments. However, there is much more to the city since it is also a popular beach resort surrounded by beautiful forested hills. Kamakura blends its samurai-era history with a relaxed seaside atmosphere, attracting visitors with its cultural treasures, fine hiking trails, beaches, and local culinary delights.

At the heart of Kamakura lies Komachi Dori, a vibrant bustling food street lined with charming wooden buildings. Walk down the whole length of the street to experience its exuberance as you jostle through crowds, inhaling the aromas and tasting interesting street food, exploring unique shops and buying souvenirs to take back home. The cafes here are also exceptional, combining Japanese and Western elements, serving cakes and coffee like you’ve never had before. And if you’re not in the mood for coffee, try matcha soft serve ice cream instead!

When you’re tired after a long day of traipsing through shrines and don’t feel up to a full restaurant meal, restore yourself with Japan’s ultimate sandwich, Tamago Sando or egg salad sandwich. Sold mostly in convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, it is beloved for the sheer pleasure of digging into that creamy gooey egg filling, sandwiched between soft pillowy white bread. It is the ultimate comfort food and once you’ve had one, you’ll be wanting to eat it all the time! Luckily it is easy to make at home and just as delicious. Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise is key to achieving that typical flavour in the egg salad and if you can find Shokupan or milk bread to sandwich it in you are all set!