Enoshima is a charming little island just off the coast of Kamakura, easily accessible from Enoshima Station by foot or bus. When I first arrived, I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect—what to see, where to start, or how much time I’d need. If you’re feeling the same, don’t worry! I’ve put together this itinerary to help guide your own visit, filled with highlights, tips, and little discoveries that made my trip memorable.

9:20 Arrived at Enoshima Station

9:45 Arrived at Enoshima

9:55 Enoshima Escar

10:10 Samuel Cocking Garden

10:25 Enoshima Sea Candle

11:10 Break at Lon Cafe

12:15 Iwaya Caves

13:10 Lunch

15:00 Back at Enoshima Station

If you prefer a quick overview, check out my Instagram story highlights:

There are two main ways to reach Enoshima Station. The first—and most scenic—is by taking the Enoden Line from Kamakura Station. Do note that trains along this route can get quite crowded, especially in the afternoon, so it’s best to go early if you want a more comfortable ride.

The second option is to take the Shonan Monorail from Ōfuna Station. It’s actually a pretty unique experience—unlike most trains, this is a suspended monorail, which means the train hangs below the track instead of riding on top of it.

From the station, you’ll walk through a lively street lined with shops before reaching an underpass that leads to the bridge connecting to the island. While there is a bus option, most people opt for the easy 20-minute walk.

If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance—I did, and it was easily my favorite photo of the day. Just five minutes later, the clouds rolled in and it disappeared.

Along the bridge to the island, there’s actually a small boat service that takes you to the far side of Enoshima, near the Iwaya Caves. I didn’t take it myself, but it’s a good option if you’d prefer to skip the long walk across the island.

The main way to get around the island is to walk. Enoshima is a hilly island so to get from one side to the other you have to climb up and down and there are quite a lot of stairs. So it can be difficult.

As you enter Enoshima and stroll down the main street, Benzaiten Nakamise Street, you’ll arrive at the base of the stairs leading up to Enoshima Shrine. From there, you can choose which path to take.

The path to the right will bring you to the back of the island where the Shrine Okutsumiya and Iwaya Caves are at. 

The Enoshima Escar is the first outdoor escalator in Japan built in 1954. It consists of three escalators that take you up to the Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden. However, they are one-way only—so you’ll need to make your own way back down.

Between each escalator, there’s a short walk to the next one—but it’s a nice chance to enjoy the views along the way.

You can pay for the use of the 3 escalators but there are also passes that include other attractions. More information can be found on the Discover Fujisawa Website.

I purchased the Enoshima 1-Day Ticket for 1,100 yen, which includes access to the Escar (360 yen), Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden (500 yen), and Iwaya Caves (500 yen). Without the pass, it would have cost 1,360 yen in total—so you save a bit.

I do like to walk but personally I would recommend the Escar as it saves time and energy.

Enoshima Escar
Opening Hours:
08:50-19:05

Fare:
360 yen

Enoshima Shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of music, wealth, and knowledge. It’s actually made up of three main shrines—Hetsunomiya, Nakatsunomiya, and Okutsunomiya—scattered across the island.

To be honest, I didn’t know this at the time. But as I made my way to the other attractions, I ended up passing by all three shrines—which is how I managed to capture photos of each without even realizing it!

Enoshima Shrine
Opening Hours:
24 Hours

Samuel Cocking was a British merchant who built his residence on Enoshima, along with a 10,000m² botanical garden filled with rare plants from around the world. After his death, the garden fell into ruin, but it was later purchased by the city of Fujisawa and beautifully restored into the garden you see today.

The garden hosts various seasonal events, many of which feature beautiful night illuminations. When I visited, the Enoshima Art Festival was taking place, so there were several artistic structures set up throughout the garden. I didn’t stay until nightfall, but I can only imagine how beautiful it must have looked all lit up.

Do note that during such events, if you enter or leave the garden at night, there may be an additional fee.

Since the garden is located at the top of Enoshima, it offers beautiful views of the coastline. This photo was taken just outside Lon Café, where I took a short break to escape the heat.

Samuel Cocking Garden
Opening Hours:
9:00-20:00

Admission:
Free except at night during events

This cute little café inside the Samuel Cocking Garden offers great views and tasty food—perfect for a break in the middle of exploring. Their specialty is French toast, served in a variety of flavours. I went for the Apple Pie with Gorgonzola French toast and added an iced milk tea to make it a set. The toast cost 1,595 yen, with the set drink adding 220 yen (other drinks cost more). It’s a bit pricey for the portion size, but the flavour was great and the view made it worth it—a lovely spot to escape the sun for a while.

I arrived around 11 a.m. and it was already quite full. When I passed by earlier at 10 a.m., only a few tables were taken—so it’s best to go early if you want a quieter experience or hope to snag a terrace seat.

LON Cafe
Opening Hours:
Weekdays 10:00-20:00
Weekends: 09:00-20:00

The Sea Candle is a lighthouse and observation tower standing 59.8 meters tall, built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Enoshima Electric Railway. Both its indoor and outdoor decks offer spectacular panoramic views of the sea, the coastline, and even Mount Fuji on clear days.

After passing the entrance gate, you can take the elevator up to the indoor observation deck. To reach the outdoor deck, however, you’ll need to climb a flight of stairs, as the elevator doesn’t go all the way up.

The view of the city and the bridge to Enoshima.

Sea Candle
Opening Hours:
09:00-20:00

Admission:
500 yen

Located on the southern side of Enoshima, the Iwaya Caves were formed over time by the powerful erosion of ocean waves against the island’s cliffs. There are two caves to explore, the first being 152m while the second is 56m.

In the first cave, you’re given a small candle to light your way—but don’t worry, it’s not completely dark, and you can still see where you’re going. Inside, there are two main paths: one leads to the legendary birthplace of Enoshima Shrine, and the other is said to connect to the Narusawa Ice Cave at the foot of Mount Fuji.

To reach the second cave, you’ll need to walk along an outdoor path. Don’t miss the Turtle Rock, or Kame-Ishi, along the way—it really does look like a turtle! See if you can spot it. Inside the second cave, you’ll find a large statue of a dragon, which honors the legendary dragon associated with Enoshima’s mythology.

Just a heads-up—you’ll need to go down quite a lot of stairs to reach the Iwaya Caves. And of course, that means climbing back up to return to the front of the island—unless you decide to take the boat back to the bridge. It was definitely a bit of a workout!

Iways Caves
Opening Hours:
09:00-18:00

Admission:
500 yen

There are two main streets on the island where you’ll find most of the restaurants. One is Benzaiten Nakamise Street—the main street at the entrance that leads to Enoshima Shrine—and the other is along the path toward the Iwaya Caves. While there are plenty of dining options, do note that most places tend to have queues during lunchtime.

I ended up eating at Enoshima Harumi Restaurant, which is located along Benzaiten Nakamise Street. It had available seats, so it was a convenient choice. The place was simple and no-frills—perfect for a quick lunch without the wait.

Between the bridge to Enoshima and the station, you’ll also find plenty of shops—so there’s no shortage of things to see (or snacks to try) as you walk to and from the island.

Enoshima Yoghurt

This was me totally pigging out before heading back to the station. The walk back was actually really pleasant—the road was less crowded and had much more space, which made it a nice and relaxing end to the day.

If you have time, I definitely recommend combining your Enoshima visit with a trip to Kamakura—they’re close by and complement each other really well. You can read more about my Kamakura day trip in this post.

Kamakura makes for a perfect day trip from Tokyo, offering a blend of rich history, serene temples, and beautiful beaches. Just an hour away by train on the Yokosuka Line, it’s an easy escape from the city. Due to its popularity, Kamakura can get quite crowded so it’s best to start your day early to enjoy the sights with a bit more peace and quiet. I arrived around 8.30am and the streets were pretty empty and quiet. Most of the shops had yet to open.

08:30 Arrived at Kamakura Station

08:45 Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple

09:30 Kamakura Beniya (Queued for 1 hour)

10:50 Hokoukuji

11:45 Komachi Dori for lunch and some shopping

14:30 Kotoku-in

15:10 Hasedera Temple

16:30 Kamakurakoko-mae Station

If you prefer a quick overview, check out my Instagram story highlights: Part 1| Part 2

Originally founded in 1063 by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in Zaimokuza, the shrine was later relocated to its current site in 1180 by his descendant Minamoto Yoritomo. It remains one of Kamakura’s most important historical sites.

Don’t miss Genpei-ike Pond, located within the grounds, which is surrounded by cherry trees in spring and lotus flowers in summer.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple
Opening Hours:
April to September 05:00-21:00
October to March 06:00-21:00

Admission:
Free

The store opens at 9:30am and this was the queue then. Earlier as I walked to the temple I already saw people queueing up. Being the typical Singaporean I joined the queue. I had to read a few google reviews to see what the shop was famous far. I had to wait an hour to get inside to make my purchase. I reconsidered half way if I should continue the wait but I had already invested too much time to back out.

Famous for their Kurumicco confectionary which is filled with bitter sweet caramel and walnuts. I actually enjoyed it as it wasn’t too sweet. I would buy it again though I’m not sure if I would queue for 1 hour again. They only produce a limited quantity each day, so it might be sold out in the afternoon.

Kamakura Beniya
Opening Hours:
09:30-17:00

Known as the “Bamboo Temple,” Hokokuji is famous for its tranquil bamboo grove. You’ll first pass through the main temple area before reaching the garden.

From the moment you enter you will be surrounded by greenery. 

The temple and gardens areas are not large but they are beautiful.

Behind the temple is the bamboo grove, which requires a small admission fee. In addition to the bamboo, the area features various other flowers and plants. The hydrangeas were just beginning to bloom for the season.

You can sit and savour a cup of matcha paired with traditional sweets while admiring the tranquil view of the bamboo forest — all for just 600 yen.

Hokokuji
Opening Hours:
09:00-16:00

Admission:
Free (Temple), 400 yen (Garden only), 1000 yen (With matcha)

This lively street stretches from Kamakura Station all the way to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple, lined with food stalls, boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants. It was the perfect spot to grab some lunch before indulging in a bit of shopping.

I had lunch at Kamakura Karari, arriving just before noon — perfect timing to beat the crowd.  I ordered the Warigo Soba set, which included three types: one with shirasu (whitebait), a Kamakura specialty, another with mountain vegetables, and the last with little shrimp tempura. The shirasu soba was my favourite — light, and flavourful. The set was 1200 yen, plus an extra 200 yen for a side of ika tempura. Delicious!

After lunch, I browsed the shops:

Plenty of matcha shops with soft serve and drinks.

A 10-minute bus ride from Kamakura Station brings you to Kotoku-in, home to the iconic Daibutsu (Great Buddha). Standing 11 metres tall and weighing 121 tons, this bronze statue is a must-see national treasure.

You can even step inside the statue for a small fee.

Kotoku-in
Opening Hours:
April-September 08:00-17:30
October-March 08:00-17:00

Admission:
300 yen (plus 50 yen to enter the statue)

Just a 10-minute walk from Kotoku-in, Hasedera is known for its magnificent eleven-headed Kannon statue, carved from camphor wood. Unfortunately, photos aren’t allowed inside.

The grounds are quite large. There is a observation platform with a beautiful view of the ocean. It’s a bit of a workout to get to it but it is worth it. In the summer, the path to the top is lined with hydrangeas.

Points of interest:

Benten Kutsu Cave – Dedicated to Benzaiten; watch your head in areas with low ceilings.

Hasedera
Opening Hours:
July – March 08:00-17:00
April – June 08:00-17:30

Admission:
400 yen

A popular photo spot thanks to its appearance in the Slam Dunk anime opening scene. Many try to capture the Enoden Line train with the beautiful view of the ocean in the background.

I took the Enoden Line from Hase Station and arrived around 4:30pm and saw a long line of people waiting for the perfect shot, It was also raining so I decided to return the next morning around 5am. By 6am, a few others had gathered, but no queues yet.  Would I say its worth waking up early?Definitely. The early morning calm and beachside view were absolutely worth waking up for.

Located just a 5-minute walk from Koshigoe Station on the Enoden Line, Ryokan Kakiya is a clean and simple place to stay. The main building overlooks the tracks, but I stayed in the annex which doesn’t have that view.

I purposely chose this place not just for its price but because it’s only a 15-20 minute walk to Kamakurakoko-mae station.

Note: Bathrooms are shared, so if that’s a dealbreaker, this may not be the place for you. Breakfast is available — just inform the host in advance. Though she didn’t speak English, she was incredibly friendly and helpful.

You can also combine this Kamakura day trip with a visit to nearby Enoshima for coastal views, shrines, and cafes by the sea. Read more about my Enoshima adventure here.