"Woman divers do not have to grope
for pearls with lamplight in Enoshima"
Akiko Yosano
In Japan, Golden Week
is a collection of four national holidays within seven days. In
combination with well placed weekends, the Golden Week (GW) becomes one
of Japan's three busiest holiday seasons, besides New Year and the Obon week. However, it was a "tobiishi-renkyu"
(飛び石連休) Golden Week this year, where three working days were sandwiched
between the consecutive off-days. While some companies decided to take a
nine consecutive days of holidays, I wasn't that lucky, and my GW was
like this - holiday-work-holiday.
Nevertheless, on
the second half of the GW, I made a trip to the most famous island of
Sagami Bay - Enoshima. My first and only visit to this island was five
years ago, in spring 2008.
Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass, which is recommended if you are planning to visit Enoshima and Kamakura on the same day.
The
plan was to cover Enoshima and Kamakura on the same day, and there is
this economical excursion ticket from Odakyu that allows you to travel
easily across these two tourist spots. The journey from Shinkuju station
in Tokyo to Katase-Enoshima station, with train exchange at Fujisawa
station, takes approximately 70 minutes. Enoshima is located just about
15-minute walk away from Katase-Enoshima station.
And to start of the long day, I knew I need something to keep me awake.
A contradicting choice, when all the while I am someone who not a big fan of coffee.
The
train was relatively packed, as I suspect most of them were heading to
the same destination. After more than an hour riding on the
sardine-packed train, we finally arrived at Katase-Enoshima station.
Most train stations in Japan have a pretty ordinary look. However, there
are a few exemptions, that are designed to look unique. Katase-Enoshima
station is one of them. This bright red train station is designed to
look like a 竜宮城 (ryūgūjō), or Dragon Castle from Urashima Taro (浦島太郎)
This 600-meter long bridge connects the island to the mainland, accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians.
A
small island in Sagami Bay southwest of Tokyo, Enoshima sits at the
mouth of the Katase River and is just south of Fujisawa city. Fujisawa
is home to Shonan beach, which is one of the nearest beaches to
metropolitan Tokyo. This beach is usually mobbed, especially during long
holidays. Enoshima is a pleasantly touristy island which offers a
variety of attractions, including a shrine, park, observation tower and
caves. On days with good weather, views of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed as
well.
Enoshima
is divided into a yacht harbor accessible to motorized traffic and a
forested hill which can only be explored on foot and paid escalators.
Here is where most of the island's popular sights can be found. Several
shrine buildings, collectively known as Enoshima Shrine, are found
around the island and are dedicated to Benten, a popular goddess of good
fortune, beauty, wealth, music and knowledge. Benten is believed to
have created Enoshima before subduing a five headed dragon that had been
terrorizing the area. The shrine and the island were a very popular
pilgrimage destination during the Edo period (1603-1868).
The narrow lane, which leads to the Enoshima Shrine. Souvenir shops and restaurants line up on both sides of the lane.
Finally, the entrance to the Enoshima Shrine. Holy crap to see so many stairs ahead of us. This is just the first
of the many long stairs that we had to climb to reach the hill top.
Those who got a bad prediction on their omikuji will usually tie their folded paper at the shrine in hoping that the bad luck will wait by the tree
rather than attach itself to the bearer.
The famous omusubi-no-ki (お結びの樹), which is popular among couple as it is believed that it will bring good luck to their relationships.
These numerous pink ema tablets are hung from the rope that ties two big trees together. The trees represent a pair of lovers and on the pink ema,
sincere wishes for happy marriage are written.
A random peek among the bushes from the top of the Enoshima Shrine. The bridge and narrow lane is filled with humans like crazy!
Enoshima Shrine consists of three separate shrines - Okutsumiya (奥津宮), Nakatsumiya (中津宮) and Hetsumiya (辺津宮), and all three
are located in different places around the island. This is the second one, Nakatsumiya.
Wadatsumiya (龍宮), a cave-like shrine which worships the dragon God (龍宮大神). Perhaps you can make you wish to this dragon
without collecting all seven golden Dragon Balls.
Probably because of the traditional Japanese happy-go-lucky take on foreign deities, she now represents wealth as well. Since Benten is also the goddess of wealth, some visitors will wash their money at the shrine's pond. In Enoshima, she is even thought to be a goddess of matchmaking as seen from the omusubi-no-ki.
A traditional wooden lamp, with dragon motive drawn on it, found at a minshuku (民宿), Japanese version of bread & breakfast.
The 60-meter tall observation tower, that also serves as lighthouse inside the botanical garden.
At present, Enoshima is divided into two city district - icchome (一丁目) and nichome (二丁目).
This is the spot at Nakamuraya Yokan store (中村屋羊羹店), where the two mountains of Enoshima seem to be constricted and was named Yamafutatsu (山二ツ).
The southern coastline of Enoshima is made up of jagged cliffs that fall steeply towards the ocean below before they suddenly level out just at the waterline, forming wide stone plates where people gather during low tide to enjoy sunbathing and fishing. The Iwaya Caves are two touristy and easily walkable caves where visitors can explore the deep caves created by erosion. The first cave contains some stone Buddhist statues that were carried there by ancient people, while the second cave is dedicated to the legendary dragon that used to terrorize the area.
Going
on further and further into the dark cave, you reach the spot where
the original Enoshima Shrine was set up a long time ago. Legend has it
that the cave path underground leads to the Narusawa ice cave at the
foot of Mount Fuji.
It was a pleasant day and this place with little pool with fish and other random sealife was filled with children who were there fishing and catching crabs.
A crystal clear water hole found at the coast line. At the background is the magnificent Pacific Ocean.
A tsunami warning signboard placed at the coastline, to remind the people to evacuate in case an earthquake and tsunami occur.
Stopped by a cafe to have some apple pancakes.
A antique water pipe with dragon motif found in one of the toilets on the island.
This is what we had to go through on the way back to the mainland!
Finally, after more than half an hour shoving through the sea of human beings, I came across this sight. People were lining up to enter one of the restaurants there.
However, it looks like they were watching some movies while waiting lol!
From
Enoshima, we took a 30-minute train ride on the Enoden Line to the
historic city of Kamakura. Just like Enoshima, Enoshima station was so
crowded that they limited the number of people who enter the station.
The queue to enter the station stretched more than a few hundreds meters
away from the station! Crazy stuff...
Kamakura, the last stop on the line is the gateway to the city's historic temples, traditional gardens and the famous Great Buddha (Daibutsu). Kamakura was the seat of shogunate rule from 1192 to 1333 and recently recommended to be recorded as one of UNESCO World Heritage site. Unfortunately, the recommendation for the feudal capital of Japan was rejected as it lacked proof of tangible assets of historical significance in the form of town planning and the way people lived.
Kamakura, the last stop on the line is the gateway to the city's historic temples, traditional gardens and the famous Great Buddha (Daibutsu). Kamakura was the seat of shogunate rule from 1192 to 1333 and recently recommended to be recorded as one of UNESCO World Heritage site. Unfortunately, the recommendation for the feudal capital of Japan was rejected as it lacked proof of tangible assets of historical significance in the form of town planning and the way people lived.
Enoshima station on the
Enoden Line, which looks like a little hut.
The old school train that we took to Kamakura.
Komachi-dori shopping street
(小町通商店街), which is very popular for local food and
souvenirs.
Finally, the food we have been waiting for the whole day - shirasu-don (しらす丼).
The most popular delicacy in Enoshima is shirasu (しらす), or baby anchovy. There are different variations of shirasu dishes served in the restaurants on this island. Generally, shirasu
is served in two methods - raw or boiled. As all the restaurants and
shops at Enoshima had long queue, we gave up having our
shirasu meal there.
Once
we arrived at Komachi-dori shopping street, we spotted a small
restaurant that serves shirasu and we didn't have any
second thought but to walk inside the restaurant immediately.
Kamakura's most important
shrine - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮) which was founded in
1063.
This is
maiden (舞殿), a stage for dance and music performances
that is build at the base of the stairway. The shrine approach can be
spotted at the background.
Dinner was some fresh sushi at Totoyamichi (魚屋路).
And the trip was ended with
beautiful sunset at Yuigahama (由比ケ浜) beach.
That sums up my one-day trip to Enoshima. Now, it is time to go back to work and at the same time, start planning for summer trip. Destination has been decided, and it is sure to be an exciting trip! Hint - pineapple and hibiscus. Anyone fancy making a guess?