Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)
Kamakura, Japan
Enoshima Island, Kamakura
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Photo: Σ64, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- The island is always open; shrine 8:30–16:30, garden and tower 9:00–20:00, caves roughly 9:00–17:00
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 3 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- The island
- Free to walk around
- Sea Candle tower
- About ¥500
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Iwaya caves
- About ¥500, roughly 9:00–17:00
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - One-day pass
- About ¥1,100 — escalators, garden, tower, caves
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Enoshima Shrine
- Free, 8:30–16:30
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Getting there
- Enoden from Kamakura, 25 minutes, then 15 minutes over the bridge
Key facts
7 kmwest of central Kamakura
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travel guidesA bridgejoins the island to the mainland
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japan-guide.comBentengoddess of fortune and music — the island's patron
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japan-guide.com60 mheight of the Sea Candle lighthouse tower
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japan-guide.com3 hallsof Enoshima Shrine around the island
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japan-guide.com2 cavesIwaya, on the south coast
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japan-guide.comFujivisible from the island on clear days
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japan-guide.com≈ ¥1,100one-day pass
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japan-guide.comWhat is Enoshima?
Enoshima is a small island off the coast of Sagami Bay, joined to the mainland by a long bridge. Officially it's in Fujisawa, the city next to Kamakura, 7 km to the west, but it's almost always visited together with Kamakura. One side of the island has a yacht harbour; the other is a wooded hill holding the main sights.
The island is dedicated to Benten, goddess of fortune, wealth, music and knowledge. Legend says she created Enoshima and subdued a five-headed dragon. Her shrine has three halls in different parts of the island, and on the hilltop stands the Sea Candle lighthouse and observation tower, from which you can see Mount Fuji on a clear day.
What to see and what it costs
Enoshima Shrine is free, 8:30–16:30; for ¥200 you can see the octagonal hall with its statue of Benten, one of Japan's three most venerated. Many people wash coins in the shrine's pond for luck with money. The Samuel Cocking Garden on the hilltop is free until 17:00 and about ¥500 after; it holds the Sea Candle tower, 60 metres tall, with entry about ¥500, open until 20:00.
On the south coast, beneath the cliffs, are the two Iwaya caves: the first holds Buddhist statues, the second is dedicated to the legendary dragon. Entry is about ¥500, roughly 9:00 to 17:00; they close in storms. Nearby is Lovers' Hill, with a bell that couples ring.
What to see
- Enoshima Shrine — Benten's three halls.
- The Sea Candle lighthouse — a view of Fuji.
- The Samuel Cocking Garden on the hilltop.
- The Iwaya caves under the cliffs.
- Lovers' Hill with its bell.
- The shopping street with shirasu dishes.
How to get to Enoshima
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- Enoden from Kamakura — to Enoshima station, about 25 minutes, then 15 minutes on foot over the bridge.
- Odakyu from Shinjuku — to Katase-Enoshima, then 10 minutes on foot.
- Shonan Monorail — from Ofuna to Shonan-Enoshima.
- From the Great Buddha — Enoden from Hase, about 20 minutes.
- Around the island — on foot and by paid escalator.
Enoshima or Kamakura
| Enoshimayou are here | Sea, tower, caves | Free to walk around | Yes, on clear days | 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamakura | Temples and the Great Buddha | Temples charge | Rarely | A day |
How long do you need?
Allow about 3 hours for the island: the shopping street, the shrine, the garden with its tower and the walk down to the caves. The stairs are steep, so many people ride the escalators up and walk down, or take the little boat from the caves back to the bridge.
Try the local dish, shirasu — tiny white fish served on rice, raw or boiled. The shopping street also sells huge flat rice crackers pressed with octopus.
The best time is a clear autumn or winter day, when the air is crisp and Fuji is visible. In summer the beaches either side of the bridge are packed, and in the evening, at sunset, the mountain looks especially fine against the sky.
Is Enoshima worth visiting?
Yes, if you have time after Kamakura: the sea, the Fuji view and a walk round the island make a pleasant change from temples.
The YesGo take: the island is touristy and very crowded at weekends, especially on the narrow shopping street. If you're short on time, you can skip Enoshima for Kamakura's temples. But on a clear day with Fuji in view, be sure to come for sunset.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Kamakura and Enoshima in a day
The Great Buddha and Hase-dera in the morning, the Enoden to Enoshima after lunch, and the Sea Candle tower at sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)40 min · ¥300
- 10 min walk from the previous stopHase-dera Temple1 h 15 min · ¥400
- 86 min walk from the previous stopEnoshima Islandyou are here3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500
3 places · about 6 h 31 min with walks · 96 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- One-day pass — about ¥1,100.
- Fuji is visible on clear days.
- Try shirasu.
- Ride the escalators up.
- In the morning: the Great Buddha.
Questions
Do I have to pay to visit Enoshima?
No, walking the island is free; the tower and caves are about ¥500 each.
What is the one-day pass?
About ¥1,100: escalators, garden, Sea Candle tower and caves.
How do I get there from Kamakura?
Enoden to Enoshima station, about 25 minutes, then 15 minutes on foot.
Can you see Fuji?
Yes, on clear days — from the tower and the west coast.
What are the opening hours?
Shrine 8:30–16:30, garden and tower 9:00–20:00, caves roughly 9:00–17:00.
How long do you need?
About 3 hours.
What should I eat?
Shirasu — tiny fish on rice.
Is it in Kamakura?
No, it's in Fujisawa, 7 km to the west.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- japan-guide.com — shrine, garden, tower, caves, prices, hours, one-day pass (via curl 09.11.2026; unofficial)
- English Wikipedia: Enoshima
- Travel guides — access, shirasu, Lovers' Hill (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q989803 — coordinates
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