Kamakura - Enoden One-Day Trip
Kamakura
~ Kamakurakōkō-Mae ~
On the first day, we took a one-hour JR train from Tokyo to Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture early in the morning. The most famous attraction in Kamakura City is undoubtedly Kamakurakōkō-Mae, the filming location for the anime 'Slam Dunk.' However, the entire coastal Enoden line has many relaxing and comfortable spots. Our first stop was the popular Kamakurakōkō-Mae. The seaside crossing, combined with the passing Enoden train and the backdrop of the popular manga 'Slam Dunk,' makes this spot extremely popular. You've probably seen many reports of hundreds of tourists crowding this small intersection, making it quite dangerous. As the saying goes, 'The early bird catches the worm,' so we arrived before 9 AM to capture a clear shot of the crossing. Honestly, if you plan to arrive after 10 AM, you might as well save your time and skip it, as the sight of the crowd will hardly put you in a good mood. Wait a minute, isn't this supposed to be a relaxing trip? Arriving before 9 AM means we had to leave by 7 AM. So, do I really want to visit the 'Slam Dunk' scene that badly? Well, it's the first day, so we should be full of energy, right?
~ Shichirigahama Beach ~
Since we arrived in Kamakura so early, we couldn't waste this sunny morning. Our next stop was Inamuragasaki Station on the Enoden line, where we planned to walk along the beach. The first sight that greeted us was the clear view of Mount Fuji. With the sun rising from the east, we looked westward from Kamakura, and the sunlight cast a golden hue on Mount Fuji, making the scene incredibly stunning. If you're patient, you can wait for the Enoden train to pass by and capture a shot with both the train and Mount Fuji in the frame. We continued walking westward until we reached Shichirigahama Beach. In front of us was the majestic Mount Fuji, to the left was the sparkling Pacific Ocean, and to the right, the vintage Enoden train. Walking on the beach was absolutely delightful.
~ Enoden ~
After a busy morning of photo ops, we boarded the nostalgic and retro Enoden train, heading towards Enoshima. Besides offering views of Mount Fuji and the 'Slam Dunk' backdrop, most of the Enoden line runs along the coast, providing unbeatable views of the Pacific Ocean from the train, making it a truly refreshing experience. If you plan to use the Enoden multiple times, be sure to get a one-day pass!
~ Enoshima ~
After a busy morning, we needed to replenish our energy. A 10-minute walk from Enoshima Station brought us to Enoshima Benten Bridge. Crossing the bridge, we officially arrived at Enoshima. Known for its seafood, Enoshima is famous for its seafood bowls. If you buy snacks to eat on the street, be wary of seagulls swooping down to steal your food!
~ Komachi-dori Street ~
In the afternoon, we returned to Kamakura City to visit the famous Komachi-dori Street, an outdoor pedestrian shopping street filled with various shops. Due to Kamakura's popularity, the shopping street is bustling with tourists every day, offering a wide variety of snack shops and cafes, making it a delightful surprise.
~ Zeniarai Benten Shrine ~
Our last stop for the day was Zeniarai Benten Shrine, which I call the 'Money Washing Shrine.' Why do I call it that? Because it's a shrine for wealth, where you wash money in the shrine's water, and it's said that the more you wash, the more money you'll make that year. People were washing all kinds of bills in the shrine's water, making it a fun experience. If it really works, even better, as it means more money for travel next year! After visiting the shrine, our day's itinerary came to an end. Since we started early, we headed back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the next day's adventures.