The Island and Its Setting
Enoshima is the defining landmark of the Shonan coast, the stretch of sea coast running south and west of Kamakura.
The island sits at the end of a sandbar reaching seaward from the Shonan beach, linked to the mainland by a bridge causeway, and it lies within the city of Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Its attractions are spread across the island: Enoshima Shrine, an observation lighthouse called the Sea Candle, the Samuel Cocking Garden, and natural sea caves.
Exploring the Island
Immediately after crossing the bridge onto Enoshima, visitors step into a covered market lane full of souvenir shops and restaurants, leading toward the island's interior.
Beyond the tourist area, Enoshima keeps a lived-in, residential feel, with ordinary homes sharing the island alongside shrines, eateries, and shops, so it carries the sense of a real small town.
The Samuel Cocking Garden takes its name from a British merchant who ran a business on the site during the Meiji era, and the garden is grouped together with the Sea Candle complex.
On a clear day, Mount Fuji appears framed by the Shonan coast, and toward sunset its silhouette stands out against the evening sky.
Hours and Tickets
The Enoshima Sea Candle tower is open from 9:00 to 20:00.
Admission to the Sea Candle tower costs 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
The Samuel Cocking Garden is open from 9:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:30.
The Enoshima Escar (the island's escalator) operates from 8:50 to 19:05.
Riding all three sections of the Escar costs 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for children.
The Sea Candle Set Ticket, which combines the Escar, the garden, and the Sea Candle for daytime use, costs 1,100 yen for adults and 550 yen for children.
The Enoden and the Shonan Shore
The Enoden, or Enoshima Electric Railway, is a small, atmospheric railway that runs between Kamakura and Fujisawa, passing through Hase, Shichirigahama, and Enoshima, and it stands as an iconic image of the Shonan area in its own right.
The Enoden gained international recognition after a coastal level crossing on its route featured in the title sequence of the popular anime SLAM DUNK, and the spot now draws fans from overseas who seek out the location.
Between Inamuragasaki and Koshigoe, the Enoden tracks hug the shore, giving passengers unobstructed views of the ocean directly from their seats.
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