Thursday 24 Nov. 1977 - Thanksgiving

"I went to Kamakura today and saw some shrines and temples. I walked around Yokosuka checking out the small shops & stuff. I finally got to the train station and took the train to Kamakura. When I got there I walked about 1 & 1/2 miles to Zeni-arai Benton (the money washing shrine). I walked back to the town, went down a few streets in the market place, and ate lunch. Then I took a narrow gauge train to Hase, where I went to the Hase Kannon Temple. There is a carved wooden image, 30 ft tall, of Kannon (the goddess of mercy).

Just a little ways from there is the temple of the Great Buddha, the Diabutsu.

From there I did some shopping and returned to Kamakura, where I took the train to Yokosuka. On my way back to the base I saw a Japanese political demonstration. I don't know what they were protesting, but there were thousands of people, chanting, waving signs & banners, and marching very orderly down the street. Which reminds me, they drive on the wrong side of the street here."