Tokyo to Kamakura
Our final train journey on our Japan rail adventure was a trip to the seaside. From Tokyo, we travelled on the Yokosuka Line approximately one hour south to the city of Kamakura.
Kamakura is a notable site for the evolution of Buddhism. The below images show Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the main shopping strip in Kamakura.
After a little exploration, we stopped for some lunch, which featured tempura, chicken cartilage, caramel tea, and cherry blossom kakigōri (shaved ice dessert). We then made our way back to the station to ride the Enoden Line.
Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden Line)
The Enoshima Electric Railway (commonly known as the Enoden Line) runs right along the sea, between the cities of Kamakura and Fujisawa. The railway has been in operation since 1910.1
After departing Kamakura, the railway functions like a tramway, running right down the middle of the street.
The train, with its signature green and yellow colours, has made a number of appearances in Japanese anime. The most popular spot to alight is Kamakurakōkōmae Station which is located right on the beachfront. The railway crossing at this station was featured in the opening of the anime version of the popular basketball manga Slam Dunk. Many fans were gathered at the crossing to try and capture the scene themselves.
From Kamakurakōkōmae Station, the Enoden Line travels to the small beach island of Enoshima.
Shonan Monorail
We ended our day with a ride on the Shonan Monorail, which is notable for being Japan’s first suspended monorail and one of only a handful that exist in the world. The Shonan Monorail has a sister suspended monorail relationship with the Wuppertal Suspension Railway in Wuppertal, Germany, which is the world’s oldest monorail.2
The carriages of the Shonan Monorail hang down below the track which is suspended 10-15 metres above ground level. We boarded at Shonan-Enoshima Station and rode the line to Ōfuna Station, from where we then transferred to the Yokosuka Line for a train back to Tokyo.
