Enoshima Island

Another day trip - this time to Enoshima island. Enoshima is a small island of the coast of southern Kanagawa. Kanagawa itself is littered with shrines and temples and statues - the remains of Shogun-era Japan. There's a great interactive map here: http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/index-e.html 

We took the train down south - then walked across the bridge to get to the island. Since we got a late start - it was lunch before we got to the island. The specialty of the area is called "shirasu" - or very small raw fish. "Shirasu-don" is fish over rice; we opted to have it over pizza. Rather bland, but worth a try. 

We also saw fish being grilled over coals...tempting, but we were already full... 

We crossed the bridge over to the island - it was still cold this early in the year, so the walk felt good.

Walking up through the town, we passed shops and temples - the red torii gate always signifies the entrance to a temple. The gate makes the place where you pause, reflect, and focus on the spiritual, not the worldly.  

People will also stop and write prayers, wishes, etc. in the spaces around the temples.

The view from the top of the hill was lovely - a little hazy, but you could see back across the bridge over to the mainland. 

At the top, there was a garden dotted with benches and pagodas - and a sky tower (in the background).



The view from here was splendid as well -















However - the highlight of the top was undoubtedly the "Lon Cafe" - better called "the amazing french toast place" More dessert than breakfast - we split the "Fig and Caramel Cream Cheese" selection.

Which was so good it deserves a close-up:

We took the long way down - to the beach, and then through the caves - fascinating, but the low-light made for bad photos. The tsunami warnings were well-visible, though.

On the way back to town, there was a love-bell - NOT quiet when rung - and a bridge, where lovers hang a "love-lock" to commemorate their amour. We have our own love-lock hung on our chicken coop in Seattle - so skipped putting one here:)  - but it was fun to see all the same.

The locks and lovers fit into an old legend about a dragon who marauded the coast - then fell in love with a beautiful maiden. It's worth looking up the legend - and the dragon is outstanding!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoshima_Engi

All in all - a marvelous day!