Enoshima is one of popular islands that you can easily access from Tokyo as day trip. Here is a guide including how to access, what to eat (food) & where to eat (restaurants),what to see/do (sightseeing spots), route & plan for a day trip in Enoshima!
Enoshima island Visiting Guide!
Enoshima is located in Shonan area, Kanagawa. “Enoshima” usually includes Katase Enoshima (not island) and Enoshima island. You can go to the island part by walking since there is a bridge.
Best Season to Visit Enoshima Island
I’d say that there is no wrong season to go there! However, my favorite time to visit Enoshima would be Spring, since there are not many people but good weather! Summer should be perfect, but that’s what everyone likes. You might like it if you are ok with a bunch of people. Autumn is also nice if you bring a jacket. It’s cold in Winter with ocean breeze, but there are not many people which is nice for me.
Just noted that Golden week (usually 1st – 2nd week of May) would be not ideal time to go since it’s packed with people as it’s difficult to get in the train.
Access To Enoshima
There are 3 stations to go to Enoshima, I would just write it down in order of closeness to walk to Enoshima island.
- Odakyu Line, Katase Enoshima station
- Enoshima Line, Enoshima station
- Shonan Monorail, Shonan Enoshima station
It takes 15 – 25 mins from each station.
I would recommend you to use “Katase Enoshima station” since it is closest and looks interesting.
Sightseeing Spots in Enoshima island
Here are sightseeing spots for you 😉 It’s a small island, but still exctiting!
Bronze Torii Gate
It is very iconic spot in Enoshima island. The original torii gate was build in 1747, and it was rebuild in 1821 which is the currently one. So it has been there for 200 years!
Enoshima Shrine
Enoshima shrine is consist of 3 parts named Hetsunomiya, Nakatsunomiya, and Okutsunomiya.
Hetsunomiya
It was built in 1206 for the first time in Kamakura era, and current building was built in 1675 and renovated in 1976. There is “Zeniarai” which is where you wash your money. It sounds a bit weird but it is told that you would get a good fortune for your finincial if you wash your money there.
Nakatsunomiya
Originally built in 853, and rebuilt in 1689. Also done a big renovation which made vermilion‐lacquered blighter in 1996. You can feel breeze from ocean which is my favorite part of this shrine.
If you get a ticket for “Escar” you can use escarators to go up the hill which make it easier and save your time.
Okutsunomiya
I couldn’t find any information when it was built, but some say it was burned out in 1841, and rebuilt in 1842. The roof was fixed in 1979, and the main building was renovated in 2011 after 170 years.
There is a paint of turtle, and you feel the turtle looks at you from any angle. The one you can see is actually a copy since the original one got damaged too much and they save it in a different place.
And there is “Wadatsuminomiya” which has dragon on the top of entrance since there are many stories about dragon in Enoshima
Enoshima Iwaya Cave
If you like to explore, you can visit Enoshima Iwaya Cave. It doesn’t take much time to walk since it is not that big. For me, I’m scared of being somewhere dark, so I was very nervous but my friend had much fun to walk around in the cave.
Admission Fee: adult(over 16 years old) 500 yen, kids(15 or 15 – years old) 200 yen
Chigogafuchi Abyss
It is interesting place to go. Depends on time/season, you could be walking around on the rock, or you might get wet too.
Shin Enoshima Aquarium
This is not in the island, and close to Katase Enoshima station.
It would be nice to go to Shin Enoshima Aquarium if you have kids. They hold some shows like dolphin, sea lion and etc. Some people go there on their date too 😉
Shin Enoshima Aquarium – Official site (English)
Street Food and Restaurant
Senbei (Cracker)
On the Benzai Nakamise street, you can find “Tako Senbei” (Tako=Octopus) and “Ebi Senbei” (Ebi=shrimp).
Asahi Honten
It’s known for Tako senbei, and there is always a line.
They make Senbei with pressuring actual shrimp and octopus and you can see how they do from where you buy it.
Fresh Seafood – Street Food
I don’t have any specific place to recommend, but there are many seafood lined up on sidewalk. You can see what they have, and they serve you grilled and/or raw.
Tobiccho – Seafood Restaurant
This might be the most famous restaurant in Enoshima Island where you can enjoy seafood bowls, and tempura (Japanese style fries).
They have 2 locations in the island, but this one is less crowd I think.
Day Trip Plan & Route in Enoshima
I personally like to spend half-day around Enoshima area, so here are my ideas for you for enjoying there. And the time (5h, 3h) is just an estimation, it would change depends on how crowd it is, and how long you would look around, and etc.
5h Plan (Lunch to Sunset)
- Tobiccho
- Bronze Torii Gate
- Chigogafuchi Abyss
- Enoshima Shrine (Okutsunomiya)
- Enoshima Shrine (Hetsunomiya)
- Sunset at some cafe or on the beach
You can go a little bit early lunch at Tobiccho otherwise it goes to crazy crowdy. And walking through Bronze Torii Gate on Nakamise street, climb up to get Chigogafuchi Abyss. Walk to Okutsunomiya (Enoshima shrine) and look at the paint of turtle and stop by Wadatsuminomiya (Dragon). Head to Hetsunomiya (Enoshima Shrine) by foot for 10 mins. You can have a seat and wait for sunset at cafe on the hill, or you can come down and go to some places like restaurants or beach.
3h Plan (Morning to Lunch)
- Bronze Torii gate
- Nakamise street
- Get a ticket for Enoshima Escar
- Enoshima shrine (Hetsumiya)
- Lunch or Snack
You can go under Bronze Torii gate walking through Nakamise street. Get a ticket for Enoshima Escar, go up to visit Enoshima shrine (Hetsumiya). Walk around on the hill and take picture with nice view including Mt. Fuji.
Coming down to the pier, have early lunch at Tobiccho, or some snacks like senbei or small bites of grilled seafood.
Best Restaurants around Enoden Train in Kamakura and Enoshima Area
Enoshima Guide wrap up
Enoshima is one of my favorite places in Kanagawa, and I recommend you to go there if you want to try something different than other tourists who go to Kamakura(Kanagawa), Tokyo, Kyoto, and so on 🙂 And I would recommend you to go to Kamakura area after/before Enoshima.