Enoshima Island is a popular day trip destination in Kanagawa prefecture, near Kamakura, about an hour from Tokyo and 30 minutes from Yokohama. As you explore the island, which can take the entire day, you can take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline and the majestic Mount Fuji in the distance. The island is dotted with shrines, temples, an observation tower, gardens and caves, all of which add to the island’s tranquil and mystical atmosphere influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism over the centuries.
How to enjoy Enoshima Island
Visitors can easily reach Enoshima Island from Enoshima station on the Enoden (20 minutes) or from Katase Enoshima station on the Odakyu Enoshima line (15 minutes).
At the entrance of the island there is a bridge connecting the mainland to the island. After crossing the bridge, you can either opt to take the escalators to the top of the island or walk uphill. Wear comfortable walking shoes as the hills are steep and there are many steps along the way.
Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden
If you’re taking the escalators (for a fee) at the top is the Sea Candle, a lighthouse observation tower where there is a a panoramic view of the Sagami Bay. Nearby you can enjoy the flowers at the Samuel Cocking Garden which was built on the site of the residence of Samuel Cocking, a British merchant.
Benten Nakamise Dori and Enoshima Shrine
If you’re walking, the first place you will reach is Benten Nakamise Dori which is the approach to the Enoshima Shrine dedicated to Benten, a goddess of good fortune, wealth, music and knowledge. There are restaurants and shops so you may end up shopping for souvenirs and satisfying your stomach before you reach the shrine. Actually, there are are two other shrines located in others areas of the island.
Iwaya Caves
On the southern coast of the island are the Iwaya Caves. It is said that the caves were created by the waves over centuries. One of the caves contains Buddhist statues and the other cave is dedicated to a dragon which is supposed to have terrorized the area. Exploring the inside of the dark and eerie caves is quite an experience. Outside the caves, there are jagged cliffs and stone plates.
Shirasu donburi
One of the highlights of a visit to Enoshima Island is the wide variety of delicious seafood options such as rice bowl with “shirasu” (small white fish) which Enoshima is famous for. Shirasu are caught in Sagami Bay around Enoshima and you can only have raw shirasu locally because they are difficult to preserve and not shipped out to other areas. For those with a sweet tooth, the island offers “dango”, rice flour balls with sweet soy sauce on top. If the weather is hot, shaved ice is a perfect way to cool down.
We tried the raw shirasu, steamed shirasu and ikura doburi (rice). So delicious and photogenic!
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