Basic guide to travelling in Enoshima and Kamakura
Enoshima is one of the popular destination for 1 day trip from Tokyo
among Japanese. Here is facing the Pacific ocean in the heart of seaside of Kanagawa near famous sightseeing spot Kamakura.
And it is often referred to as "Mont Saint Michel of the east" by its shape.
Also the beaches around Enoshima and Kamakura are well-known swimming beach in summer and popular marine sports spot such as surfing, swimming, beach volleyball and sailing.
Climate is warm almost throughout the year, but it has very hot days sometimes in summer.
In recent years, Enoshima become famous for fresh seafood especially "shirasu"(whitebait - young sardines), fantastic illumination event in winter and cute street cats. And do you know? Sailing competition venue of 2020 Tokyo Olympics is here!
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However, Enoshima Island has long history and unique culture, that was related to a old love story of a goddess and the dragon. And there are many places, temples and shrines in the area that have relationships with Kamakura Shogunate and its samurai culture. Because of Kamakura was a capital city of the samurai government in Japan in 12th century.
Enoden Line train that links seaside of the area is not only a transportation but also a very popular tourist spot.
It is famous and loved for the reason that the stations and train remind
of the good old days of Japan, and it runs various places from the downtown
to the seaside via mountainside and the back of the houses.This area and Enoden train appears as the stage of many drama, movie, anime and manga works. In recent years, the fan of these works are visit here to see the real place and experience the feeling of the characters.
In Japan, "E" does pronunciation like "A". So, Japanese pronunciation is similar if you pronounce like "A-no-shima", when you say "Enoshima".
Guide and Information for...
- Connect Free Wi-Fi info
History
Enoshima Island is said to appeared suddenly on the sea in 552, according
to old tale.
In 700(Nara era), En no Ozunu visited and trained at Iwaya Cave. Thereafter, the island was treated as a sacred place and known for ascetic practice place.
In 814(Heian era), famous Buddhist priests Kukai (Kobo Daishi) worshipped to Iwaya Cave and built a shrine.
In 1182, Minamoto no Yoritomo (the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate) enshrined Benzaiten goddess at the place of current Okutsunomiya Shrine. After that, Enoshima Island became to receive the faith of successive men of power.
The famous historical person who visited Enoshima.
In 700(Nara era), En no Ozunu visited and trained at Iwaya Cave. Thereafter, the island was treated as a sacred place and known for ascetic practice place.
In 814(Heian era), famous Buddhist priests Kukai (Kobo Daishi) worshipped to Iwaya Cave and built a shrine.
In 1182, Minamoto no Yoritomo (the founder and first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate) enshrined Benzaiten goddess at the place of current Okutsunomiya Shrine. After that, Enoshima Island became to receive the faith of successive men of power.
The famous historical person who visited Enoshima.
- En no Ozunu[役小角] (a.k.a. En no Gyoja[役行者]) - a shaman, the founder of Shugendo
- Kukai[空海] (a.k.a. Kobo Daishi[弘法大師]) - a monk, the founder of Shingon Buddhism
- Ennin[円仁] (a.k.a. Jikaku Daishi[慈覚大師]) - a priest of Tendai Buddhism
- Minamoto no Yoritomo[源頼朝] - The founder and 1st shogun of Kamakura Shogunate
- Minmoto no Yoriie[源頼家] - 2nd shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate
- Fujiwara no Yoritsune[藤原頼経] - 4th shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate
- Ippen[一遍] - a Buddhist itinerant preacher, the founder of Jishu Buddhism
- Tokugawa Ieyasu[徳川家康] - The founder and 1st shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate
- Tokugawa Mitsukuni[徳川光圀] (a.k.a. Mitokomon[水戸黄門])
- Sugiyama Waichi[杉山和一] - Acupuncturist (discoverer of Shinkan way)
- Edward sylvester Morse - an American zoologist and orientalist
- Samuel Cocking - an Irish merchant
Culture
Benzaiten goddess [a.k.a. Beng Teng] is known for god of music, dance and
the art, so lot of actors and musicians worshipped in Enoshima.In Edo era, visiting Enoshima and worshipping Benzaiten goddess became a popular sightseeing and pleasure for Edo inhabitants.
Furthermore, Enoshima Island became the locations of Kabuki and was drawn on the Ukiyoe print, the island came to be known in nationwide.
You can see some tiles which reproduced the old Ukiyoe print which drew Enoshima Island, at the center of the underpass in Katase town.
Dragon is another important existence for the culture of Enoshima. There
is a old tale that a five-headed dragon lived in current Katase Town (opposite shore of Enoshima Island).Originally, the dragon did the evildoing and tormented residents.
One day, a beautiful goddess began to live in Enoshima Island. The dragon fell in love her and proposed marriage, but was declined by the reason of the evildoing to residents.
The dragon was shocked and reformed itself to become the guardian angel of residents. Later, the dragon and the goddess married and brought prosperity and peace in the area.
Therefore a lot of places, things and festivals in connection with Benzaiten goddess and the dragon exist in Enoshima and Kamakura, and the reason that Enoshima is the power spot of fulfillment of love.
What and where to see?
Thanks to above reason, it was not carried out large scale development
in Enoshima Island and Kamakura except for part of east side of Enoshima,
and there are many places keep same scenery from the old days, such as...
Various must-see events and festivals are held in Enoshima and Kamakura throughout the year, including
the traditional festivals based on old legends and historical facts or
the illuminations that use full of the state of the art technology.
Joining these events and festivals is a unmissable good chance to experience the real Japan's tradition and culture!
- Enoshima Jinja Shrines
- Ascetic practice place Iwaya Cave
- Superb panoramic view including Mount Fuji over the sea
- Fantastic sunset scenery
- Nakamise Street - a small slope lined with many shops, restaurants and hotels on both sides
- Alley of Higashimachi - old portside town
- Very old shrines and temples that have relationship with Kamakura Shogunate
Various must-see events and festivals are held in Enoshima and Kamakura throughout the year, including
the traditional festivals based on old legends and historical facts or
the illuminations that use full of the state of the art technology.Joining these events and festivals is a unmissable good chance to experience the real Japan's tradition and culture!
What to eat and buy?
Thanks to facing to the Pacific ocean, you can eat really fresh seafoods
which caught in the morning in lunch in Enoshima and Kamakura. A lot of
restaurants offers these seafood with wide selection of style such as traditional
or modern Japanese, Chinese, Western, snacks, sweets and so on...
You can also enjoy cafe and sweets in the area too. Some shops or cafes offers Japanese style sweets in old traditional wooden house.
Most of restaurants, cafes and sweets shops are unable to provides religious foods such as Hindu, Muslim and Kosher or Vegetarian food.
Seafood products are traditional souvenir of the area. But Zakka (miscellaneous goods) is becoming popular souvenir items especially at Nakamise Street - the main street of Enoshima, Hase Town in west of Kamakura and Komachi-dori street in the center of Kamakura recent years.
Area with many Shops and restaurants are as follows
You can also enjoy cafe and sweets in the area too. Some shops or cafes offers Japanese style sweets in old traditional wooden house.
Most of restaurants, cafes and sweets shops are unable to provides religious foods such as Hindu, Muslim and Kosher or Vegetarian food.
Seafood products are traditional souvenir of the area. But Zakka (miscellaneous goods) is becoming popular souvenir items especially at Nakamise Street - the main street of Enoshima, Hase Town in west of Kamakura and Komachi-dori street in the center of Kamakura recent years.
Area with many Shops and restaurants are as follows
- Nakamise Street in Enoshima Island
- Along the main street of Higashimachi in Enoshima Island
- Yama-futasu valley to Okutsunomiya Shrine in Enoshima
- Seaside roadside in Katase Higashihama and Katase Nishihama
- Subana Street in Katase Town
- Koshigoe Shopping Street
- Hase Town
- Komachi-dori Street in the center of Kamakura
- Near around of Fujisawa Station
Stay
If you want to stroll the shore under the comfy morning sun or experience
the night of Enoshima Island surrounded in a quiet atmosphere, we recommend
that you 'd better stay neighboring in the island.
Ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) and hotels are available inside of Enoshima Island. Some of them stands in Nakamise Street has very long history since Edo era. Ryokan and hotels are also located in Katase Town.
Standard or luxury hotels and guest houses are also located in Koshigoe, Shichirigahama, Hase, Fujisawa, Kamakura and Ofuna.
More detail information available on our Where to stay - Hotel List page.
Ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) and hotels are available inside of Enoshima Island. Some of them stands in Nakamise Street has very long history since Edo era. Ryokan and hotels are also located in Katase Town.
Standard or luxury hotels and guest houses are also located in Koshigoe, Shichirigahama, Hase, Fujisawa, Kamakura and Ofuna.
More detail information available on our Where to stay - Hotel List page.
Cash or Card?
Most of the restaurants and shops in the area are small, and don't accept
credit cards or debit cards. In addition, there is no bank and money changer
that accepts foreign currency near Enoshima Island.
Limited restaurants and shops are accept major credit cards. Anyway, you have better to bring Japanese Yen cash, when you visit here.
Shops and restaurants in the center area of Kamakura City are accept major credit card for your payment.
Limited restaurants and shops are accept major credit cards. Anyway, you have better to bring Japanese Yen cash, when you visit here.
Shops and restaurants in the center area of Kamakura City are accept major credit card for your payment.
Transport for the area
The roads around Kamakura and Enoshima is often crowded very much especially
on the weekend and summer holiday season. And the parking lot in Enoshima
Island is limited too, it may be kept waiting at very long time.
Therefore we advise you to use a train and a monorail to come to Kamakura and Enoshima for prevent a waste of time.
Enoden Line is the most convenient way to go and see the area that connects between Kamakura and Fujisawa via Enoshima.
This train appeared on lot of TV dramas, animes and movies that staged in this area, because of very popular with Japanese its nostalgic and beautiful seasonal scenes.
Especially, Kamakura Koko Mae Station and rail crossing near there, is well-known place by able to see and experience same scene of these dramas, animes and movies.
More detailed info available on our Enoden Line guide page.
Detailed access information from Tokyo metropolitan area and Yokohama, Please see here.
Therefore we advise you to use a train and a monorail to come to Kamakura and Enoshima for prevent a waste of time.
Enoden Line is the most convenient way to go and see the area that connects between Kamakura and Fujisawa via Enoshima.
This train appeared on lot of TV dramas, animes and movies that staged in this area, because of very popular with Japanese its nostalgic and beautiful seasonal scenes.
Especially, Kamakura Koko Mae Station and rail crossing near there, is well-known place by able to see and experience same scene of these dramas, animes and movies.
More detailed info available on our Enoden Line guide page.
Detailed access information from Tokyo metropolitan area and Yokohama, Please see here.
Connect
There are very limited free Wi-Fi spot available around Enoshima by geographical
reason. However, it is steadily increase in recent days.
We guide the detailed location of free Wi-Fi spot by the area on our "Tourist Spot Guide" page.
When you looking for and find your nearest free Wi-Fi spot, you can use "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" app.
TownWiFi app can connect to more than 200k free Wi-Fi spots in Japan automatically.
(*Their website is Japanese only. Please see detail at App Store or Google play via TownWiFi website.)
At all stations of Enoden Line, Odakyu Line's Katase-Enoshima Station and Fujisawa Station are available "Odakyu Free Wi-Fi". It is not supported by "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" app, select Odakyu_Free_Wi-Fi on your device.
We guide the detailed location of free Wi-Fi spot by the area on our "Tourist Spot Guide" page.
When you looking for and find your nearest free Wi-Fi spot, you can use "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" app.
TownWiFi app can connect to more than 200k free Wi-Fi spots in Japan automatically.
(*Their website is Japanese only. Please see detail at App Store or Google play via TownWiFi website.)
At all stations of Enoden Line, Odakyu Line's Katase-Enoshima Station and Fujisawa Station are available "Odakyu Free Wi-Fi". It is not supported by "Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi" app, select Odakyu_Free_Wi-Fi on your device.
Luggage storage / Coin locker
Limited number of coin lockers are available in the public area of some
major stations to temporary luggage storage. Location are as follows.
Fujisawa Station (3)
Enoshima Station (1)
Hase Station (1)
Kamakura Station (4)
Fujisawa Station (3)
- JR Line station: At the backside of ticket counter, opposite of a sweets shop.
- Odakyu Line station: On the left outside of the South Exit.
- Enoden Line station: At the left side of exit on the right towards the ticket gate.
Enoshima Station (1)
- Inside the station building near the ticket vending machines.
- *No coin lockers at Katase-Enoshima Station and Shonan-Enoshima Station.
Hase Station (1)
- At Platform 2 (*Inside of paid area). No coin lockers in the public area.
Kamakura Station (4)
- JR Line West Exit: On the right outside of the station building.
- JR Line East Exit: At the right side of exit near Police station. Another one is in the left side of exit near Tourist Information and underpass.
- On the 4th floor of the building next to the left of Enoden Line Station exit, temporary luggage storage service offered by Kamakura City tourism association.
- Opening hours: Everyday 9:00 - 17:00(5:00pm)
- Price: 600 - 800yen per piece (depending on the size)
Info for Disabled or elder travellers
Enoshima Island is mountainous area and you have to go anywhere by foot.
Most of the roads are full of steep stairs and slopes.(Except for east
side such as Higashimachi town and Shonan Port)Escar (paid escalator, one-way to climb up only.) connects from the end of Nakamise Street to Sea Candle on top of the island. But it is unable to carry wheelchair and no way to go back.
So we are sorry to say that you'd better not to go more ahead from Red torii gate, end of Nakamise Street. (The road is steep slope too, watch your step!)
Enoden Line and Odakyu Line has barrier-free facility or able to assistance.
