The Legend of Enoshima

The Tale of Gozuryu & Benzaiten

Though very popular with the locals, the island of Enoshima and its neighboring quaint beach town are easy to miss. Overshadowed by alternatives like Kyoto or nearby Kamakura, the area is actually of great historical significance. While Enoshima is mostly known for its bustling beach culture now, the area was actually a very popular pilgrimage during the Edo period (1603–1868).

The beauty of the island has been captured by artists like the famous artist Hiroshige and the poet Basho. Central to the island allure is the tale of the goddess Benzaiten and the five-headed dragon Gozuryu. In this article we will be following the roots of this legend. After much exploration I have managed to narrow the entire journey down to a one-day excursion. Nevertheless, this itinerary leaves little room for dilly-dallying. If you’d rather enjoy the slower pace of life, I highly suggest completing the entire journey over the course of two days.

Ancient Myths & Enoshima’s Origins

In 1047, the Buddhist monk Kokei chronicled the dark history of Enoshima island and the surrounding area of Koshigoe…