Enoshima 2019 (November visit): Traveling to Enoshima

Around midday I boarded a train in Shinjuku heading south towards Kamakura, but before I got to Kamakura I exited the train at Ofuna Station. There I boarded the Shonan Monorail that would take me to Enoshima. Back in September I had briefly visited Enoshima and I decided then that before departing Japan I’d return to Enoshima for a second look. The monorail connecting Ofuna with Enoshima was the type that hangs from the line above it and I think that might have been the first time I had ever been on this sort of monorail.

It had been raining in Shinjuku and I had brought my umbrella with me down to Enoshima but I would end up not needing it. The Enoshima terminal of the Shonan Monorail is a few minutes walk from the beach and although the skies were completely gray the cool air made it felt like a nice day to be outside.

Enoshima is connected to the mainland by a bridge. There’s a parking lot on the island for people driving in from the mainland but I think most visitors will be fine crossing the bridge on foot.

At the far end of the bridge I arrived at the village on Enoshima. The island’s economy is completely dependent on tourism and the main road leading up to Enoshima’s sightseeing attractions is lined with shops catering to visitors. I only had a few hours to visit Enoshima so I started up the road and began my tour of the island.