Exploring Enoshima

Inspired by the many articles about Enoshima I decided to visit during my most recent trip to Japan. With no other purpose but to relax by the ocean I headed off to see the island.

Passing along the long bridge connecting the mainland with Enoshima I thought that the island seemed rather small. Crossing over, I was then greeted by a lively trade street lined with restaurants and shops offering souvenirs, sweets and other treats.

Cute Japanese souvenirs are quite appealing to me. From the vast variety available I chose a shichi-fuku-jin made of Japanese silk and some Chinese star-sign animals missing from my collection - the tora (a tiger), nezumi (a rat) and ushi (an ox). The glass dragon figurines were nice but seemed a bit too fragile.

Happy with my purchases I went to the escalator’s ticket office to buy the 1-day Enoshima Pass but the ￥1000 pass was currently suspended due to renovation work at the Iwata Caves. I was offered another discounted pass though coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Enoshima escalator where each ticketed visitor received a souvenir!

Next up I found beautiful shrines, temples and statues. Dragons are quite popular on Enoshima and connected with its legends and history. Between those shrines and temples were beautiful spots to relax with small gardens filled with ajisai flowers, turtle-filled ponds and cats walking about freely. Wherever I went, there were spots to view the coast and the bay. Mt. Fuji was hidden amongst the clouds that day.

I also visited the English-styled Samuel Cocking Botanical Garden created in the 19th century. With all kinds of exotic (at least for me) trees and plants the garden was a good shelter from the summer heat. I liked the exhibition of small plants placed into glass capsules amongst the palm trees. The view from the Sea Candle open deck was breathtaking.

Full of impressions after half a day, I decided to try the local dish - shirasu don. While not my favourite dish, this dish of tiny sardines on rice was nice.