2026 Enoshima Day Trip Guide: Secret Sea Caves, Hanging Monorails, and the Best Ocean View Cafes—No Detours Needed! 📍🗺️

Floating on a hanging train and exploring mystical caves: my Enoshima adventure ☀️✨

Hello everyone~ it’s Hattie here 💛 Today I’m taking you on a mini-tour of one of my favorite coastal escapes near Tokyo: Enoshima and the famous hanging train at Ofuna.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, the Kamakura and Enoshima area is probably on your radar, but let me keep it real—there is so much to see here. If you try to cram it all into one day, you’re going to be exhausted. We originally planned for two days, but life happens, and we had to rush back to Shinjuku the next day to hunt for jerseys (the things we do for fashion, right?).

I had to make the tough call to skip Komachi-dori and the Great Buddha, but honestly? I made it to the Iwaya Caves and the iconic Kamakura High School (the Slam Dunk spot!), so I’m a happy girl. Plus, I’ve heard Komachi-dori feels a lot like other Japanese market streets, so no regrets! This trip was all about the “wow” moments: exploring mysterious underground caves, riding a train that literally flies in the sky, and catching that golden hour glow on the seaside tracks. 📸

A Public Service Announcement: Don’t Be Like Me ☀️🔥

Okay, before we get into the fun stuff, we need to talk about the Japanese summer. It is HOT. Like, “melting into the pavement” hot. The sun in the Kanto region does not play around, so please, for the love of all things aesthetic, wear your sunscreen.

I’m usually the girl who skips the SPF because I think a tan looks cute. And sure, for the first few days, I was feeling my bronzed goddess self… but it’s been six months and now I’m seeing dark spots and sun damage on my arms and face. 😭 It’s not a vibe. Learn from my mistakes: slather on the SPF 50 or you’ll be regretting it later!

The Route: Your Stress-Free Loop from Fujisawa

We started our day arriving at Fujisawa Station from Atami. If you look at the map of this area, it’s basically a big loop. To save you from unnecessary detours, here was our flow: Fujisawa — Ofuna — Enoshima — Kamakura — Fujisawa. This post is all about the Ofuna and Enoshima leg. Stay tuned for the Kamakura sunset vibes in the next one! 🌊

Part 1: The “Hanging” Train (Shonan Monorail) 🚠

First things first: take the JR from Fujisawa to Ofuna Station (South Exit). This is where you switch to the Shonan Monorail. Now, this isn’t your average commute. It’s one of the few suspended monorails in the world!

Pro tip for the photographers: there’s a famous spot near Ofuna station called Flake Hair Design where you can get that perfect “hanging train” shot. But being 100% honest? It was so hot that I refused to leave the air-conditioned cabin until the very last second. ❄️ I decided to just snap my photos at the Enoshima terminal instead.

The ride itself is a bit of a thrill—it wobbles just enough to feel like a slow-motion roller coaster! It feels like you’re gliding over the houses. It’s super cute and definitely worth the detour just for the experience.

Part 2: The Adventure Begins at Enoshima Iwaya Caves 🗺️

Once you hop off the monorail at Enoshima Station, look for the bus stop right next to the station (not across the street!).

Look for the bus labeled “江ノ島” (Enoshima). It’ll take you right across the bridge so you don’t have to walk the long causeway in the sun.

Once you’re on the island, get ready for a workout. Enoshima is basically a giant hill full of shrines, cute stalls, and restaurants.

There are a lot of stairs, but don’t worry—there are vending machines here so you won’t die of thirst. We headed straight for the southwestern tip of the island to find the Enoshima Iwaya Caves.

The Life-Saving Pitstop: Cafe Madu 🍹

We planned to explore the caves first and then eat, but the sun was being so disrespectful that we were about to melt. We stumbled into a place called Cafe Madu. I saw it only had a 3.7 on Google Maps, but at that point, I would have walked into a cardboard box if it had a fan. 🧊

Plot twist: it was actually amazing! The AC was blasting (total heaven), the view of the ocean was not bad, and the food was surprisingly fresh. We had these healthy veggie-packed local dishes that were exactly what we needed. I have no idea why the rating is so low—to me, it was a solid 5-star rescue mission!

Part 3: Deep Dive into the Iwaya Caves

After cooling down, we finally made it to the caves! On the way, you’ll pass several “Mite-tei” (lookout restaurants) that everyone raves about. They had some lines since it was summer, so I was glad we ate at Madu.

When you see the bright red railings against the blue ocean, you know you’re close! This spot is so Instagrammable. The contrast between the jagged cliffs, the sea, and that traditional Japanese red is just chef’s kiss. 📸

You pay a small “adventure fee” to enter the caves, and it is the best money you’ll spend. It’s naturally chilly inside!

They even give you a little candle lantern to carry, which makes you feel like you’re in a Ghibli movie. 🕯️

Some parts are low-ceilinged so you’ll have to crouch, and the floor can be slippery, so take it slow.

The caves are this cool mix of nature and ancient spirituality. You’ll see Buddhist statues tucked into the rock formations and, at the very end, the mysterious Dragon God. You can make a wish there, but since I wasn’t sure how to come back and say “thank you” to a Japanese dragon, I just gave a respectful nod. 🐉

It takes about 30 minutes to walk through, and the sea breeze on the way out feels incredible.

Part 4: Reaching the Sky at Enoshima Sea Candle 🕯️

Next up: the Enoshima Sea Candle (the big lighthouse). We wanted to catch the sunset in Kamakura, so we didn’t stay for the night views, but I’ve heard the illumination here is magical.

You buy your ticket at the kiosk (about 500 yen for adults), walk through some pretty gardens, and then head up the elevator.

The indoor observation deck has amazing AC and floor-to-ceiling windows.

If you want the best photos without glass glare, head to the very top outdoor deck. Just a heads up: it’s windy and hot, but the 360-degree ocean view is unbeatable! 🌊

🌟 Hattie’s Final Thoughts: Is Enoshima Worth It?

Enoshima is easily a full-day vibe. We only saw the middle and western parts of the island and it almost took our whole afternoon. There’s a whole eastern harbor side with more cafes that I didn’t even get to touch!

If you love a mix of “outdoor adventure” and “aesthetic seaside town,” you have to come here. The cave adventure was definitely the highlight for me—it’s not every day you get to carry a candle through a sea cave filled with ancient statues.

Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll be sharing the trip in Kamakura! 💖