A day out on the Enoshima Island
November came and I was still out of job. Just for a change from regular visi to job centre and endless search on the internet, I decided to treat myself a day out to the Enoshima Island.
The Enoshima Island is located off the coast in Shonan beach, near Fujisawa.
The legend has it that a lonely dragon was desperate and angry with loneliness, causing terrible disaster to local area with endless storm. Then out of the blue, there came a beautiful goddess, which is said to be the Salasvati, speaking to the angry dragon why he is causing such a dreadful disasters. Dragon said that he want someone to stay with him. The goddess said that she will be with him as his wife on a condition that he will make an end to his despair and guard the local area instead of causing natural disaster.
Thus the island became famous for this romantic legend of dragon and Slasvati, couples from all over the world are visiting shrines, making wish for endless relationship.
It was a warm day, and despite of the state of emergency, many people were visiting the island. The lane underneath the first Torii gate was already full of people paying a visit.
There is another famous person from this island, a scoundrel called "Benten Kozou". He grew up on the Enoshima, and became an apprentice of a temple called Iwamotoin ( Now it is "Iwamoto ro, an Ryokan hotel). One day, he stole donations to the temple. He gradually became worse, and started steal money from wallets of pilgrims visiting the island. He joined a bandit later on, and became a thief. The legend of the bandit became famous that even dramatized in Kabuki play called "Shiranami Gonin Otoko".
The Iwamoto ro, where Benten Kozo started stealing, is one of the famous Ryokan hotel. Hope it will continue operating after COVID -19.
Enoshia is quite hilly island, there are many steps to climb when visiting shrines and temples. The second Torii gate stands on a very steep stairs.
The shrines were prepared for the visitors during COVID-19. One of their effort was seen at the spring water where visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouth. Normally there are ladles to scoop up some water, but on that day, it was like this. You can wash your hands with water trickle down from the halved bamboos.
The first shrine always has "Kaya no Wa kuguri", a circle shaped straw where pilgrims goes in and out of the circle, making wish for better world. When I visited there, the shrine announced that it is for making wish for the end of pandemic.
On the next to the first shrine, there is a tiny shrine dedicated to Salasvati. I have an impression that this is one of the most holy place among 5 major shrines on the island, with breathtakingly beautiful statue of Salasvati holding an music instrument. Recommended a visit when you are not too busy with your schedule while your day out here.
The second shrine looks quite compact and very colourful. There are many lamp posts donated by Kabuki companies such as Ichimura or Nakamura, who performed Shiranami Gonin Otoko.
After climbing up and down on the steep hills and steps, you reach the third shrine and a cavern of Dragon. The third shrine looks quite old but simple, with some drawings of goddess. Many people lined up on a queue to pay a visit to the shrines.
A few steps from the cavern of the dragon, there is a steep and very narrow steps leading down to the rocky coast of Enoshima called "Chigo ga Fuchi". The coast is famous for rock fishing, and there were many people fishing on that day.
Once you landed on the coast and walk a few minutes to the left, you will reach a grotto of Enoshima. There are two caves, and one of them is said to be connected to an underground cave of Mount Fuji. Not sure if this is true, though. One of the cave was quite pretty, beautifully illuminated with fairy light.
It was a refreshing day out. A nice change for the days of endless search for a job. I came home with bottles of Enoshima beer. Quite tasty ale in a beautiful blue bottle. Enjoyed it with nice Gyoza dumplings.
