🗺️ Enoshima江の島

A long beach stretches out towards the sea, with the small island of Enoshima at its tip, famous for its stunning views of the Shonan Sea and Mount Fuji. Although it is an island, it is a land-connected island. You can reach the island by walking across a bridge, which is accessible 24 hours a day (though vehicles are not allowed between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM). The roadway on the bridge is called "Enoshima Ohashi," while the pedestrian walkway is known as "Enoshima Bentenbashi." "Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Street" is the approach to the "Enoshima Shrine" on the island, surrounded by many souvenir shops and restaurants, as well as regular residences. During the Edo period, this area was very popular as a scenic spot and a place of worship, and during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it left an impression of Shonan as a hub for water sports, as it served as the venue for sailing competitions. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021 also used this location for sailing events. The island has many tourist attractions, such as the "Enoshima Sea Candle," a lighthouse symbolizing Enoshima built on a high point, the "Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden," a botanical garden established by a British merchant during the Meiji era, and the "Enoshima Iwaya," a cave said to be the birthplace of Enoshima Shrine, formed by erosion from the sea.

Residential areas, as well as many facilities on the island, bridges, and stations of the 湘南 Monorail, are represented by "江の島" (Enoshima), while post offices, stations of the 小田急線 (Odakyu Line), and 江之島電鐵 (Enoshima Electric Railway) use "江ノ島" (Enoshima). Additionally, shrines are represented by "江島" (Enoshima). Of course, the pronunciation is the same, "E NO SHIMA," all referring to the same island. On the 江之島弁財天仲見世通 (Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Street), there are many shops where you can taste the seafood of Enoshima, and selecting snacks at the shop entrances is quite enjoyable.