There was no way the rain could deter our long-awaited plan of visiting Kamakura – a small town in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan renowned for its architectural legacy and serving as a popular retreat for residents living in nearby cities like Tokyo as well as tourists.

It was a Saturday and the huge crowds we had been anticipating did not disappoint. People’s spirits remained unfazed despite the deteriorating weather condition.

As we trekked through narrow, winding paths and ventured through towering woods, we were rewarded with a moody yet enthralling vista of historic Buddhist temples and their surrounding flora. In particular, one of the temples we explored, the Meigetsu-in Temple, boasted well-manicured gardens behind its main hall, with some of the gardens booming with hydrangeas in white, violet and blue. Little did we know at the time that this quaint temple was known as the Temple of the Hydrangeas. We were able to capture a few shots of these beautiful, in-season blossoms as we carefully ambled our way through the garden teeming with visitors holding onto their umbrellas.

After making obligatory stops at a few notable shrines and a cozy cafe to rest our feet along the way, it was not long before we stood in the glory of Kamakura’s most famous landmark, the Daibutsu or “Great Buddha” of Kamakura, housed inside the Kotoku-in Temple. Retaining the title of the second-largest monumental Buddha in Japan, it weighs approximately 121 tons and reaches a height of almost 14 meters! One could go inside the sacred monument for a small fee but we decided to entertain ourselves on the sidelines by watching people strike silly, comical poses in front of the stern, majestic monument.

We had plans to visit Enoshima, a coastal town with a scenic beachfront which was only a short train ride away from Kamakura but it was getting late and we had to give ourselves some time to commute back to Tokyo.

This rainy day trip to Kamakura was certainly a short but sweet adventure that had been etched into our memories. Scrolling through these photos now offers us a sense of serenity which is all we desire. And for those who have not been to Kamakura, hopefully these photos would be enough to urge you to make a stop at this charming town if you ever get the chance to visit Japan. Enjoy!