Enoshima (江の島) is a small offshore island, about 4 km (2.5 mi) in circumference, at the mouth of the
Katase River which flows into the
Sagami Bay of
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Administratively, Enoshima is part of the mainland city of
Fujisawa, and is linked to the Katase section of that city by a 389-metre-long (1,276 ft) bridge. Home to some of the closest sandy beaches to
Tokyo and
Yokohama, the island and
adjacent coastline are the hub of a local resort area.
History
Classical era
Benzaiten, the goddess of music and entertainment, is enshrined on the island. The island in its entirety is dedicated to the goddess, who is said to have caused it to rise from the bottom of the sea in the sixth century.[1] The island is the scene of the Enoshima Engi, a history of shrines on Enoshima written by the
Japanese BuddhistmonkKōkei in 1047 AD.
Modern era
In 1880, after the
Shinto and Buddhism separation order of the new
Meiji government had made the land available, much of the uplands was purchased by
Samuel Cocking, a British merchant, in his Japanese wife's name. He developed a power plant and extensive botanical gardens including a very large greenhouse. Although the original greenhouse was destroyed in the
1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the botanical garden (now the
Samuel Cocking Garden) remains an attraction with over half a million visitors a year.
Iwaya Caves - were formed by the erosion of waves in ancient times. It has also been a place for Buddhist monks to train. The Iwaya caves consists of the First Cave (153 m (502 ft) in length) and the Second Cave (56 m (184 ft) in length). These caves can be entered by purchasing a ticket.[2]
Luminous Way - A set of three illuminated escalators which take visitors from the base of the Enoshima Shrine to the Samuel Cocking Garden, bypassing a series of long and steep stairways. Fees required.[3]
Enoshima Illuminations - A large-scale light show that runs from December through the end of February. The show is free, but admission to the Samuel Cocking Garden is required.[4]
Lover's Hill/Bell of Ryuren - A romantic place where lovers post messages with padlocks, a mini-version of the love locks in Paris.[5]
Enoshima Aquarium - See the exhibits of a large variety of sea creatures as well as live shows involving dolphins and penguins. Admission fees required.[6]
While the bridge and town area of Enoshima are wheelchair accessible, anything past the main gate of the shrine (including the observation tower, caves, etc.) is inaccessible to those with mobility difficulties.[9]
In popular culture
In the 1951 film Tokyo File 212, a key scene takes place in Enoshima.
In the 2004 anime Uta Kata, the main character and her friends visit Enoshima in one episode.[10]