:Enoshima Retreat Private Walking Tour in Benzaiten and Iwaya

listing image 1
Show all photos
6 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Enoshima is a small island where the sea, shrines, and legends sit close together—an ideal place to reset your pace. Crossing Benten Bridge feels like stepping through a boundary from everyday life into a more sacred, reflective space. This experience is designed as a retreat-style walk, prioritizing spacious timing, gentle guidance, and moments to simply look out at the ocean and breathe.

We explore Enoshima through the story of Benzaiten and the Dragon—framed not as a “battle,” but as a narrative of acceptance and harmony. After a relaxed island stroll and lunch, we follow the coastal path while introducing Enoshima’s history as a place of training and pilgrimage. At Enoshima Iwaya Caves (seasonal and weather-dependent), you’ll experience a symbolic passage through darkness to light—often described in Japanese spirituality as a “rebirth” moment—before finishing with quiet ocean time and a sunset closing at a scenic viewpoint.

What's Included

Public Transportation fee
Admission Fee
Hotel Pickup
National Licensed English Speaking Guide. Please let us know if you prefer any other languages.
Lunch
Personal Expenses
Souvenirs

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

The guide will be waiting for you at your hotel lobby with your name sign.
Please inform about your pick up details in advance.

OR
Meeting point
You can choose from multiple locations at checkout.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 6 hours (approximately)
  • (Pass by)

    We begin by walking across Benten Bridge, the long approach that connects the mainland to Enoshima. This bridge becomes our symbolic “threshold”, a conscious shift from everyday pace into a more reflective space. As we cross, we’ll slow down, take in the sea air, and set a simple intention for the day (no pressure, just a gentle mental reset). The bridge itself is nearly 389 meters long, which gives a natural buffer to leave the city behind.

    Admission ticket free
  • 1
    Enoshima Shrine

    At Eshima Shrine, we explore Enoshima’s spiritual identity through story rather than “just facts.” The shrine is associated with the Munakata goddesses and Benzaiten—often linked to water, arts, music, and prosperity. Here, we introduce the Dragon and Benzaiten legend through the theme you designed: The “dragon” as raw nature and inner intensity (instinct, anger, fear) Benzaiten as acceptance, harmony, and integration Instead of a hero-versus-monster narrative, we frame it as an invitation to “include and integrate” what we usually fight. We choose ocean-view points to stop, breathe, and enjoy the scenery. Then we take a relaxed lunch featuring local flavors (paid individually). In the retreat framing, the meal is not just “fuel” but part of cleansing and replenishment. Optional add-on (by request): Matcha experience If you choose to include it, we’ll position matcha as a mindful ritual—slowing the hands and senses, not simply “trying matcha.”

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 2

    At Enoshima Iwaya Caves, the retreat becomes tactile and unforgettable. Inside, the atmosphere changes—cooler air, dim light, stone walls, and a sense of moving through the earth. We interpret the cave as a symbolic womb passage: in many Japanese spiritual contexts, passing through darkness and emerging into light can represent “dying once and being reborn.” When we step back outside, we pause deliberately to feel the contrast—light, ocean wind, and wide sky—and let guests absorb that “birth moment” in their own way (silence is welcome). We end with a sunset closing at a hilltop or seaside location, depending on the day’s conditions. Important operational note: Iwaya is weather/sea-condition dependent and may close during high waves or typhoons; hours can also vary seasonally. If it’s closed, we’ll shift the time into shrine stories, viewpoints, cafés, and reflective pauses on the island instead.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • The itinerary might be changed due to weather condition or other reasons.
Supplied by MY Travel Consulting
Show 2 more

Tags

Day Trips
Half-day Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Rail Tours
Walking Tours
Underground Tours

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Show more
from per person
Was {{formatPrice(summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount, currency, 2)}}
Book Now