Date & Time: Sunday, April 5, 9:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Visitors: Three Belgians (Belgian couple and 9-year-old-daughter)
Spots: Hasedera Temple, Houkokuji Temple, Jomyoji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and Komachi-dori Street
Guides: Two KSGG members
Language: French
The overnight rain had stopped before dawn. Outside the hotel where visitors were staying, the cherry blossoms along Dankazura were blooming so profusely that they seemed to be shrouded in a pink haze.
Since the visitors had arrived in Japan, they had experienced a week of rainy weather, so Kamakura seemed especially bright to them that morning.
The Bare family, who live in Brussel, were visiting Japan for the first time. They said they had dreamed of visiting Japan for the past ten years and planned to spend three weeks traveling throughout the country.
Before the peak rush hours on the Enoden, they headed to Hase first. Their mother, who is interested in Japanese religion and spirituality, was deeply moved by mizuko jizo (a small peaceful deity) of unborn children. She bought a mizuko jizo charm as a souvenir for one of her friends who had lost a baby. Pointing to the wooden boards sotoba (stupas) beside the graves, they asked the guides,“What are those?” The unexpected question embarrassed the guides a little.
Their daughter took off her socks and shoes in front of the Great Buddha of Kamakura and sat cross-legged, imitating its pose. At Hasedera Temple, she imitated the expression of Nagomi Jizo by closing her eyes and putting her hands together. Her parents enthusiastically took many pictures of their daughter’s adorable poses.
Before lunch she was sulking because her father had scolded her. However, she cheered up as soon as the guide presented her Japanese origami doll. While waiting for lunch to be served, she and her parents enjoyed folding origami together.
Her father seemed to really like the sneakers he had bought on Komachi-dori street and carried the shopping bag. They said that Belgium is also facing a decreasing birthrate and an aging population. Someday, their daughter might remember this trip and return to the historic city of Kamakura with her own husband and children. Imagining such a future, the guides said goodbye to the family.
2026-7-5