Have you ever heard of Enoshima?
If you are tired of busy areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku in Tokyo I recommend a visit to Enoshima - a small and quiet island with beautiful views.
Just a short train ride from Tokyo, it takes about one hour with the express train so it's a great place for a day trip or combined with a visit to nearby Kamakura.
It's worth getting the 'Enoshima Kamakura Pass' which includes a round trip ticket between Shinjuku and Fujisawa station. The pass also gets you unlimited use of trains from Fujisawa to Enoshima and Kamakura. You can buy the pass from the ticket counter at the west exit of Shinjuku station (follow signs for the Odakyu line).
Enoshima connects to the mainland by a short bridge which you have to cross by foot but don't worry about getting lost as the road is well signposted. When you cross the bridge, you will be able to take in spectacular views of the ocean and Mt. Fuji (if you're lucky with the weather!).
The 'Enoshima Temple', located on the top of the hill behind the harbor, has a huge ring that you can pass through. There is a story that any bad luck will disappear when you pass through the ring so why not try? You can also use an escalator if you feel tired of walking to the top of the hill, though you have to pay.
There is also a large observatory at the top called 'Sea Candle'. The entrance fee is 500 yen and you will be able to see some beautiful gardens and take a tour around the observatory. If you only want to tour the gardens, the entrance fee is 200 yen.
In my opinion, Enoshima has more local visitors than foreign tourists so you can feel a calmer and quieter atmosphere compared to other places close to Tokyo.
Take a short trip to Enoshima if you want to have a relaxing time. You won't regret the experience.
