View source for Enoshima

{{Short description|Offshore island in Fujisawa, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan}}
{{For|the Odakyu Romancecar train|Enoshima (train)}}
{{Infobox islands 
| name             = Enoshima
| native_name      = {{nobold|江の島}}
| native_name_link = Japanese language
| native_name_lang = ja
| image            = EnoshimaAeralPhoto1988JP14.jpg
| image_caption    = A 1988 aerial image of Enoshima
| image_map        = 
| location         =
| coordinates      = {{Coord|35|17|59|N|139|28|49|E|display=inline,title|region:JP-14_type:isle_source:dewiki}}
| archipelago      = [[Japanese archipelago]]
| area_km2         = 
| length_km        = 
| width_min_km     = 
| width_max_km     = 
| coastline_km     = 
| rank             = 
| highest_mount    = 
| elevation_m      = 
| country          = {{JAP}}
| population       = 
|timezone1        = [[Japan Standard Time]] ([[UTC+9]])
| population_as_of = 
| density_km2      = 
| ethnic_groups    = [[Japanese people|Japanese]]
| module = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=shape|frame-align=center|plain=y|frame-width=255|frame-height=255}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''Enoshima'''|江の島}} is a small offshore island, about {{cvt|4|km}} in circumference, at the mouth of the [[Katase River]] which flows into the [[Sagami Bay]] of [[Kanagawa Prefecture]], Japan. Administratively, Enoshima is part of the mainland city of [[Fujisawa, Kanagawa|Fujisawa]], and is linked to the Katase section of that city by a {{convert|389.|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} bridge. Home to some of the closest sandy beaches to [[Tokyo]] and [[Yokohama]], the island and [[Shōnan|adjacent coastline]] are the hub of a local resort area.

==History==
===Classical era===
[[Benzaiten]], the goddess of music and entertainment, is enshrined on the island. The island in its entirety is dedicated to the goddess, who is said to have caused it to rise from the bottom of the sea in the sixth century.<ref>Papinot (1972:82)</ref> The island is the scene of the ''[[Enoshima Engi]]'', a history of shrines on Enoshima written by the [[Buddhism in Japan|Japanese Buddhist]] [[Bhikkhu|monk]] [[Kōkei (monk)|Kōkei]] in 1047 AD.

===Modern era===
In 1880, after the [[Shinbutsu bunri|Shinto and Buddhism separation order]] of the new [[Government of Meiji Japan|Meiji government]] had made the land available, much of the uplands was purchased by [[Samuel Cocking]], a British merchant, in his Japanese wife's name. He developed a power plant and extensive botanical gardens including a very large greenhouse. Although the original greenhouse was destroyed in the [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake]], the botanical garden (now the [[Samuel Cocking Garden]]) remains an attraction with over half a million visitors a year.

<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Gallery" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Enoshima in the Sagami province.jpg|"Enoshima in the Sagami Province" by [[Hokusai]] (part of the series'' [[Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji]]''), circa 1830
File:Hiroshige_Pilgrimage_to_the_Cave_Shrine_of_Benzaiten.jpg|Pilgrimage to the Cave Shrine of Benzaiten by Hiroshige Ando (c. 1850)
File:Enoshima_by_Takahashi_Yuichi_(MOMA_Kamakura_and_Hayama).jpg|Enoshima by Yuichi Takahashi. Between 1876 and 77.
File:Kusakabe_Kimbei_1016_Enoshima.JPG|Photograph by Kimbei Kusakabe. 1890s.
File:Lucky Gods' visit to Enoshima.jpg|Lucky Gods' visit to Enoshima (1869)
File:19 - The Seven Ri Beach.jpg|The Seven Ri Beach
</gallery>

===Contemporary era===
Enoshima is now the center of [[Shōnan]], a resort area along the coast of Sagami Bay.

== Food ==
*Various forms of rice cracker, including those of octopus  ("Maruyaki Tako Senbei") , shrimp, and whitebait at [https://murasaki-imo.com/ Asahi Honten]
==Transportation==
Enoshima is served by three nearby railway stations: [[Katase-Enoshima Station|Katase-Enoshima Terminus]] on the [[Odakyū Enoshima Line]], [[Enoshima Station]] on the [[Enoshima Electric Railway]] ("Enoden"), and [[Shōnan-Enoshima Station]] on the [[Shonan Monorail]].

== Features ==
*Enoshima Illuminations - A large-scale light show that runs from December through the end of February. The show is free, but admission to the Samuel Cocking Garden is required.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2023 |title=An award-winning winter illumination of Enoshima |url=http://travelenoshima.jp/festival/illumi.html |access-date=February 10, 2023 |website=Travel Enoshima}}</ref>
*[[Enoshima Sea Candle]]- located within the Samuel Cocking Garden.
*[[Enoshima Shrine]]
*Iwaya Caves - were formed by the erosion of waves in ancient times. It has also been a place for Buddhist monks to train. The Iwaya caves consists of the First Cave ({{cvt|153|m}} in length) and the Second Cave ({{cvt|56|m}} in length). These caves can be entered by purchasing a ticket.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planetyze.com/en/japan/kamakura/enoshima/information|title=About Enoshima - Kamakura Travel Guide {{!}} Planetyze|website=Planetyze|language=en|access-date=2018-02-19}}</ref>
*Lover's Hill/Bell of Ryuren - A romantic place where lovers post messages with padlocks, a mini-version of the love locks in Paris.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2014 |title=Love Bell: Locked in Love in Japan |url=https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/love-bell |access-date=February 10, 2013 |website=Japan Talk}}</ref> 
*Luminous Way - A set of three illuminated escalators which take visitors from the base of the Enoshima Shrine to the Samuel Cocking Garden, bypassing a series of long and steep stairways. Fees required.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2023 |title=Daytrip to Enoshima from Tokyo |url=https://gourmetflyer.com/daytrip-to-enoshima-from-tokyo/ |access-date=February 10, 2023 |website=Gourmet Flyer}}</ref>
*[[Samuel Cocking Garden]]- located at the island's summit.



<gallery>
File:Enoshima_eastside_beach_02.jpg|Enoshima
File:Enoshima.JPG|Enoshima yacht harbor
File:Enoshima - various scenes - 2022 Oct 31.webm|thumbtime=2|Various scenes of the island, 2022
File:Shonan View from the Enoshima Sea Candle 2024 Dec 24 various 18 16 54 096000.jpeg|Looking towards [[Fujisawa, Kanagawa|Fujisawa]] from [[Enoshima Sea Candle]]
File:Mt. Fuji from Hiroyama Ｐａｒｋ (Zushi).jpg|Viewed from Miura Peninsula.
File:1 Chome Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-ken 251-0036, Japan - panoramio.jpg|[[Enoshima Shrine]]
File:Iwaya_Caves_-_Enoshima,_Japan_-_DSC07964.jpg|Iwaya Caves
File:Enoshima - Luminous Way.jpg|alt=An escalator illuminated with space-themed lighting in the background.|Luminous Way - The first of a set of 3 escalators
</gallery>

==Sport==
Enoshima was the [[Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics|Olympic harbor for the 1964 Summer Olympics]].<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1964/or1964v1pt1.pdf 1964 Summer Olympics official report.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707162648/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1964/or1964v1pt1.pdf |date=July 7, 2010 }} Volume 1. Part 1. p. 115.</ref> Enoshima was also used as the sailing venue for the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=東京五輪、26競技の会場決定 自転車・サッカー除き|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLSSXK10834_Y5A600C1000000/|access-date=9 June 2015|work=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=9 June 2015}}</ref>

== Accessibility ==
While the bridge and town area of Enoshima are wheelchair accessible, anything past the main gate of the shrine (including the observation tower, caves, etc.) is inaccessible to those with mobility difficulties.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.accessible-japan.com/places/japan/kanagawa-1/fujisawa/attractions/enoshima/|title=Enoshima - Accessible Japan {{!}} アクセシブルジャパン|work=Accessible Japan {{!}} アクセシブルジャパン|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* Johnson, H. (2022). '[https://u-ryukyu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2017821/files/%5B003-020%5D.pdf Enoshima: Signifying Island Heritage Across Space and Place]'. ''Okinawan Journal of Island Studies'' 3 (1): 3–20.
* Papinot, E. (1910). ''Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan''. 1972 printing. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company. {{ISBN|0-8048-0996-8}}.
* {{cite book
 |last=Sabin
 |first=Burritt
 |title=A Historical Guide to Yokohama
 |publisher=Yurindo
 |location=Yokohama
 |year=2002
 |isbn=4-89660-172-6
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Enoshima}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://www.discover-fujisawa.jp/  Fujisawa City Tourism]

{{Kanagawa}}
{{1964 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{2020 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues sailing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Venues of the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Venues of the 2020 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic sailing venues]]
[[Category:Olympic surfing venues]]
[[Category:Fujisawa, Kanagawa]]
[[Category:Islands of Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Shoals of Japan]]
[[Category:Prefecturally designated scenic spots]]
[[Category:Designated historic sites of Kanagawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Cat islands in Japan]]
[[Category:Resorts in Japan]]