Final day in Japan

So we`re down to the wire here. We`re headed out to the fish market with our luggage to store in a locker in Tokyo Station before we go to the early market. We won`t make the 4 a.m. tuna auction but the trains don`t run that early anyway. But we`ll have a sushi breakfast there. Should be interesting! Hope we don`t get splashed or we`ll smell like fish all the way to US! Our seatmates won`t like that!
We had a lovely visit in Kamakura, except for the rain! Slogging around in that wasn`t too great! But we saw the big Buddha, climbed inside him to see how he was formed of huge sheets of bronze! He survived the earthquake, bombing, whatever, but the wooden shelter built around him didn`t. So now he sits there serenly out in the elements and doesn`t seem to mind. Pretty impressive! 800+ tons!
There was also a temple to Kannon (in China she`s called Guanyin) goddess of Mercy. apparently two statues alike were carved and one is in Nara. This other one was thrown into the sea to be compassionate to the rest of the world, and floated ashore near K. Love these stories that go with the temples!
We stayed in an IYH and I inadvertently had sent my card home with Joyce in my other suitcase. She was able to scan it at the library and they accepted it which saved me Y1000. Yea, Joyce!! Thanks!
The hostel is run by Japanese grandparents who had lots of their 4 (soon to be 5) grandchildren from their 4 sons who live scattered around Japan. He was very helpful with maps of Kamakura and umbrellas to keep us somewhat dry! We were able to leave our bags there (checkin wasn`t until 4 p.m.) and walk around with a lighter load.
It`s a very neat town, on the beach and lots of Hawaiian shops - go figure! I remember so many Japanese tourists, especially golfers, in Hawaii! I heard they go there for the golf as golf courses here are hard to get a tee time! We rode this funky train/looks like a tram from Kamakura to Kamakure Hase 3 short stops away. It had wooden floors and moved very slowly!
Our room when we got to it was unusual - the top bunk was SOOOO high! I wouldn`t even attempt it so I took all the blankets and futons I could gather and slept on the floor, ala the temple in Takayama! Didn`t have a great night`s sleep but didn`t fall out either! I could hear people talking loudly downstairs through the floor so got up and went into the room with the kotastu (that heated table with big quilt! and read for awhile!) Finished The Thousand Mountains of Jacob de Loet - great Japanese story! and picked up another paperback for the plane.
After a great Japanese breakfast prepared by Grandpa and Grandma, we headed ;off to Kamakura and KiteKamakura for some more temples.
Betty`s ready to go so I`ll have to finish this later.
Sayonara from Japan!
Kerry and all, can`t wait to hug you guys later today (actually tomorrow!)