- Enoshimajinja Shrine is located in the popular tourist destination Enoshima
- Three deities are worshipped at the three shrines of Enoshimajinja Shrine.
- Finally, go to “Iwaya,” the birthplace of Enoshima Benzaiten.
- Access to Enoshimajinja Shrine
- Parking around Enoshimajinja Shrine
- Enoshimajinja Shrine Official Website
- Recommended around Enoshimajinja Shrine
Enoshimajinja Shrine is located in the popular tourist destination Enoshima
Enoshimajinja Shrine is located in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Enoshima Island, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan.
It is said to have been founded around 552 (the 13th year of Emperor Kinmei), when Emperor Kinmei (the 29th emperor) built a palace in a cave on the south side of the island.
According to Azuma Kagami, a history book written in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Minamoto no Yoritomo enshrined Benzaiten in a cave on the island in 1182, which is also said to be the year of the temple’s founding.
There are many theories as to when the temple was founded, but since the late Heian period (794-1185), it has been a mixture of Shinto and Buddhist styles due to the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhist teachings.By the Edo period (1603-1867), the shrine was also worshipped as “Benzaiten.
After the Meiji Restoration, Buddhism (Buddhist) was abolished due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, and the shrine became “Enoshima Shrine.
The crest of Enoshimajinja Shrine is an “inverted wave three scales” in imitation of the crest (three scales) of the Hojo clan, which was revered in the Kamakura period (1185-1333).
Three deities are worshipped at the three shrines of Enoshimajinja Shrine.
The three main deities of Enoshimajinja Shrine are the three goddesses of Enoshima, enshrined at the Hetsumiya, Nakatsumiya, and Okutsumiya shrines, respectively.
The three deities are enshrined at the Hengu, Nakatsu, and Oku-tsumiya shrines, and the Hengu shrine enshrines Tagitsuhime no Mikoto, the god of the sea.
It was founded in 1206 by Minamoto no Sanetomo, the third shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate. The present Henzingu Shrine was rebuilt in 1675, and was extensively renovated in 1976.The Nakatsu-gu Shrine enshrines the deity Ichigishimahime-no-Mikoto, who is identical to Benzaiten, one of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune.
It was founded in 853 by Jikaku Daishi Ennin (the third Tendai Seishi).
The current building was rebuilt in 1689 and renovated in 1996.
In 2011, the floorboards of the hall of offerings and the worship hall were replaced, giving the building a beautiful vermilion color.
The Okutsumiya Shrine is dedicated to Takirihime-no-mikoto.
The year of construction is not known, but it is said to have been rebuilt in 1842, and renovated in 1979 and 2011.
There are many other points of interest, including the “Copper Torii” at the entrance to the temple grounds, the “Bonan-den” (a Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten), and the “Ryugu” (a Shinto shrine dedicated to Ryugu no Okami).
For those who have difficulty walking up the many stairs to visit the three shrine pavilions, there is an escalator available for a fee.
Finally, go to “Iwaya,” the birthplace of Enoshima Benzaiten.
After visiting the three shrines, go to the “iwaya” at the far end of the island.Iwaya is managed not by Enoshima Shrine but by Fujisawa City.
The Iwaya is said to be the birthplace of Enoshima Benzaiten.Since then, many priests and military commanders have prayed here.
There are two iwaya (rock houses).The “First Iwaya” is 152 meters deep and is said to lead to the ice cave on Mount Fuji, and the “Second Iwaya” is 56 meters deep and is said to be the site of the legend of the Dragon God.
It takes about 2 to 3 hours to see all three shrines and the iwaya, but there are many restaurants along the way, so you can spend half a day just on Enoshima if you eat.If you only want to see the Iwaya, please use the sightseeing boat “Bentenmaru”.
Access to Enoshimajinja Shrine
2-3-8 Enoshima, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa 251-0036
・15 minutes on foot from Katase Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line
・20 minutes on foot from Enoshima Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line
・23 minutes on foot from Shonan Enoshima Station on the Shonan Monorail
Parking around Enoshimajinja Shrine
Enoshimajinja Shrine Official Website
Official site：http://enoshimajinja.or.jp/