Summer Cherry Blossom in Kamakura

Last week, I took a trip to Kamakura as it has been a while for me to visit Kamakura. I remember the first time I visited Kamakura, the town feels old and venerable. Kamakura has always been a tourist town, but it manages to feel otherwise.

Over the years, Kamakura has changed a lot. Although, I appreciate the changes that have been done in this city (it has definitely made the town look more interesting and beautiful), but I am not sure if I enjoy the experience of being in Kamakura anymore. It seems to me that more people are flocking to this city, making the streets crowded, not to mention, turning this place into an even more tourist town than before. 

Anyway, I am back to Kamakura to view a special flower which I like to call, the summer cherry blossom. They are not actually the famous Japanese cherry blossom, but every summer, this plant will produce brilliant clusters of red, purple, pink, lavender and white, wrinkly and crinkly-edged flowers. These flowers seem to fill the trees till it reaches an overflowing point. This plant I am talking about is known as a crepe myrtle plant. The plant produces crinkled, crepe-like textured  flowers, and perhaps, that's how it gets its name. 

In Japanese, these flowers are known as sarusuberi (サルスベリ). Almost sounded like strawberry if you are not listening properly. Maybe I should have called them strawberry flower instead because its deep pink colour.

It loves the sun (just like the sunflower) and that's why it flowers in summer. When these flowers bloom, they put up quite a show. Like puffs of heavy clouds, they cluster together in vibrant colours of deep pink, bright red, purple, white and light pink.  

The name given for these flowers by the cultivators also reflected their fatal attraction to them. These flowers have mind-blowing names such as 'Dynamite' for the red-coloured, 'Pink Velour' for the deep pink and 'Twilight' for the purple-coloured flowers. 

The flower is not the only thing that is interesting about this plant. Its bark is quite attractive, marked with blotches of various colours. As the older layers peel off in the early summer, it reveals colours from pale cream to dark cinnamon. It has an interesting whip-like branches that makes it look old and wise. And its leaf turns colours too from red in the spring, dark green foliage in the summer and a remarkable burgundy colour in fall. Its vase-shaped canopy provides shade like a banyan tree. Both are my perfect choice of shade for the summer.

The best places in Kamakura to view crepe myrtle flowers are Gokurakuji temple (極楽寺), Hongakuji temple (本覚寺) and the Hasedera temple (長谷寺).

How to get there

If you arrived at JR Kamakura station (JR鎌倉駅, JR Kamakura-eki), then, Hongakuji temple should be your first stop. The Hongakuji temple is about 5mins walk from the JR Kamakura station. The admission is free.

After that, you can make your way to the Hasedera temple to view more crepe myrtle flower. The walk from Hase station (長谷駅, Hase-eki) on the Enoden Line (江ノ電) is about 10 minutes or if you choose to walk from Kamakura station, it is about 30 minutes. There is an entrance fee to the Hasedera temple in case you didn't know, but it costs only 300yen. 

And from Hasedera, you can either walk for 20mins or use the Enoden line to Gokurakuji temple. If you are taking the train, then, stop at the Gokurakuji station (極楽寺駅, Gokurakuji-eki) and walk up the road till you get to the bridge. Turn left and you will see the temple. It is less than a minute's walk. The admission is free for Gokurakuji temple.

Address and website

Hongakuji Temple 本覚寺 

Address: 12-12 Komachi 1-chome Kamakura

Hours: During daylight hours

Admission: Free

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Hasedera 長谷寺 

Address: 11-2 Hase 3-chome Kamakura

Hours: 8:00-17:00 (Until 16:30 from October to February) 

Admission: 300yen

URL: http://www.hasedera.jp/words/english/e1.html

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Gokurakuji Temple 極楽寺 

Address: 6-7 Gokurakuji 3-chome Kamakura

Hours: 9:00-16:30

Admission: Free

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The crepe myrtle plant has one of the longest flowering periods with these colourful blooms lasting from 60 to 120 days. In a way, they seem to bloom all summer long, so catch them this summer if you are in Kamakura. I know for sure that the flowers will fascinates you with their eye-catching display.