Just an Hour from Tokyo! 5 Popular Spots in Enoshima to Visit on a Day Trip

1. Benzaiten Nakamise Dori

You will find a bronze torii (traditional Japanese shrine gate) when you cross the Enoshima Benten Bridge from the Shonan Bay. Here you will see the Benzaiten Nakamise Dori, which serves as the pathway for the Enoshima Island Shrine, where you will find family run inns, confectionery and souvenir stores. One of which is the popular "Asahi Honten," which sells the specialty called "tako senbei" (350 JPY (incl. tax), octopus rice crackers. Two to three whole octopi are pressed and then baked to create a crispy cracker, which you can enjoy warm.

2. Enoshima Sea Candle

This spot is located in the Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden, which is a botanical garden with a tropical mood, and the well-loved observatory is the symbol of the island. Here you can have a view of the huge panorama around the island at an altitude of 101.5m above sea level. You may look forward to seeing Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Sky Tree across the sea if the weather permits it. You may also want to watch out for the sunset, where you get to see the view in front of you transform into orange. They also put on illuminates at night time.

Entrance Fee: 500 JPY for Adults, 250 JPY for Children
※ This fee covers the Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden + Enoshima Sea Candle Observatory

3. Enoshima Shrine

There are three shrines in the island: Hetsumiya, Nakatsumiya, and Okutsumiya. These shrines encases a god which blesses humans with safe travel, improvement in the arts, luck in their love lives, fortune, and riches. Here you can look forward to seeing the Hoan-den in the Hetsumiya where you can find a Sarasvati (female deity) and many paintings of birds and flowers as well as statues at the hall of worship at the Nakatsumiya. Meanwhile, at the hall of worship at the Okutsumiya, you will find the painting of the gazing turtle on the ceiling. No matter from what angle you look at it, it will seem as if it is looking at you.

Entrance Fee to Hoan-den: 200 JPY for Adults, 100 JPY for Middle to High School Students, 50 JPY for Elementary School Students

4. Enoshima Iwaya Caves

The Enoshima Iwaya Caves, located at the southwestern part of the island, were created using the force of the waves. This structure is composed of the first cave with a depth of 152m and a second rock with a depth of 56m. This spot has long been a place for worship since the olden times. Within the caves that echo and have mysterious looking lights, you will find materials that explain the history of the island as well as its culture. If you ride on the "Benten Maru" (400 JPY for adults, 200 JPY for children) amusement ferry at the departure spot of the Iwaya, you will be able to get to the Enoshima Benten Bridge within 10 minutes.

Cave Entrance Fee: 500 JPY for Adults, 200 JPY for Children

5. Enoshima Aquarium

How about visiting the aquarium at Prefectural Shonan Beach Park after touring around Enoshima Island? This aquarium has a lot of highlights to offer such as the water tanks that model the Shonan Bay stretching out before your eyes, the world of the mysterious jellyfish, as well as the deep sea fish corner, which was created based on research using world class equipment. You may enjoy watching the powerful dolphin and sea lion performances at the dolphin show stadium that looks over Mt. Fuji and Enoshima Island.

Entrance Fee: 2,100 JPY for Adults, 1,500 JPY for High School Students, 1,000 JPY for Elementary and Middle School Students, 600 JPY for Small Children

Here at Enoshima, you can have a great time while enjoying the food as you walk and take in the view of the sea. Please take the time to take in the charms of Enoshima Island as you relax.