Enoshima Island

Enoshima is a picturesque land island with a circumference of 4 km and an elevation of about 60 m, jutting out from the Shonan coast into Sagami Bay.
It is also known as the “Miami Beach of the Orient” for its beautiful coastline,
The island has long been a scenic spot and is now one of the most popular tourist areas in Japan.

The island is home to the Enoshima Shrine, the Enoshima Iwaya, an underwater cave, the Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden, a botanical garden with a mix of Japanese and Western plants, the Enoshima Sea Candle, an observation lighthouse, and a yacht harbor.

Instead of climbing hundreds of steps to the top, visitors can use the open-air escalator, Enoshima Escalator, to easily reach the top in 4 minutes with a height difference of 46 meters. The total length of the escalator is 106 meters, and it connects the two islands in four consecutive ascents only.

The Enoshima Benten Bridge for pedestrians and the Enoshima Ohashi Bridge for cars are located on the other side of the island,
On the opposite shore is Shonan Kaigan Park, where the Enoshima Aquarium is located, and Katase Higashihama Beach.

Many seasonal events and traditional events are held throughout the year.

In ancient times, the island was only accessible on foot when the tide was low, but after the Kanto Earthquake, the entire island was uplifted, and the island has since become almost entirely landlocked.

The island has long been a popular place for pilgrimages and excursions.
The steep terrain surrounded by sea-eroded cliffs and the existence of “iwaya,” a sea-eroded cave, have characterized Enoshima as a place for religious practice since ancient times.

It is said that Enoshima was visited by Enokaku in the Nara period (710-794), Kukai and Ennin in the Heian period (794-1185), Yoshinobu (a Buddhist priest of mercy) and Ippen in the Kamakura period (1192-1333), and Mokuiki in the Edo period (1603-1868).

In 1182, Bunkaku invoked Benzaiten (Sarasvati) at the prayer of Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Yoritomo dedicated the torii (gateway) to the deity, which is said to have been visited by generations of shoguns and court nobles.

After the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the temple was protected as a sanctuary by the political leaders of the time, and has been visited by them since then. Since Bensaiten (god of water) was regarded as the patron god of song, dance, and music, many kabuki actors and musicians visited the shrine.

Since the early Meiji period (1868-1912), many foreigners have visited the temple, and Samuel Cocking, an Irish trader, built a villa and garden on the top of the east mountain.

In the late Edo period (1603-1867), the island became a popular tourist destination for the common people of Edo.