Enoshima Shrine

The Enoshima Shrine is one of the ”Three Great Shrines” that enshrine Benzaiten (a goddess or goddesses) and is dedicated to worship the goddesses of Hetsuno-miya, Nakatsuno-miya, and Okutsuno-miya. It is said that the shrine was established when people worshiped a god in one of the island caves by the order of Emperor Kim'mei, who lived before Prince Shotoku. It is believed that this god is the guardian of marine and land transportations as well as a fishery. In addition, it is believed to grant good luck with money and success in one's career as many samurai warriors visited there to pray for victorious battles back in the old days. The sacred tree in the shrine precinct is called ”musubi-no-ki,” on the branches of which you will see many ema (votive horse tablets) hung. These ema tablets were placed by those who wish for good marriage matches. It is a 15 to 23-minute walk from either the Odakyu Line Katase-Enoshima Station, the Enoshima Dentetsu Line Enoshima Station, or the Shonan Monorail Line Shonan-Enoshima Station.