Japan - Day Five, Enoshima Island

For some reason, jet lag this time wasn't too bad. I think we slept well enough during our first night and didn't wake up at dawn like usual probably due to the really long and turbulent flight from the US.

We woke up before lunch today to get ready for our trip to Enoshima Island. Around noon before we got to the island, we had lunch at Natural Table buffet by Kamakura Beach. I think Robert and Mary have taken us here during one of our previous visits.



ENOSHIMA ISLAND

We've been to several tourist spots when Robert and Mary lived here but somehow we've never been to Enoshima Island. It's connected by a bridge from Kamakura and the views are a photographer's mecca. Fortunately, the weather fully cooperated.


We climbed up three flights of stairs and an escalator to the top of the hill. We then rode the elevator towards the top of Enoshima (Temboudai) Observation lighthouse.


As per Japanese tradition, before going up to the shrine, devotees are made to wash their hands and rinse their mouths as a form of cleansing.


There are several shops selling food and souvenirs. We tried the tako sembei, which is basically octopus in batter pressed dry and cooked and turns out to taste like octopus flavored rice cracker.


We also took quite a few pictures in the island's gorgeous botanical gardens.


Towards the top of the hill, there's a huge tree which serves as a wishing well (wishing tree? ema in Japanese) where people hang up little boards with wishes written on them. So of course, I had to hang one of my own wishing the newlyweds a happy and prosperous life. Reggie put up one of theirs too.


There's also this huge ring (chi gaya) where we noticed people go through a few times over. Manami explained it as a way of atonement - one trip through for every offense.


For some reason, there are several cats all over the area.