Enoshima Iwaya Cave — Attraction in Fujisawa

Iwaya Cave was an amazing and beautiful experience. The walk down took some time, but the tide was coming in and there is an area where you can literally walk on the sea. It's a worth detour from the trail to the cave for some beautiful pictures. They even provide some nets, so some of the kids play around with them in the tide pools looking for critters.

There are two caves in the side of the cliff and the brochure and wall hangings provide some exceptional information about the history and origin of the caves. Inside Cave 1 is an amazing view of the original Iwaya shrine and also shows a passage that is said to link to "Fuji-san". They also provide candles as you get deeper into the cave.

Cave 2 is a bit smaller than Cave 1 and has a interesting statue you can wish upon and see if it comes true.

The caves can get really low ceilings, I'm 6'2" and had to bend quite a bit once you start to get deeper into the cave, but the experience is over within a few minutes and is worth a little bit...

I suggest getting the one day tourist pass for Enoshima Island which includes entrance to the caves, the observation deck (Sea Candle), the garden, and the elevators. It’s only ¥1100 and you can purchase them at the Katase Enoshima tourist info center. The wait time to enter the caves was quite long. Took us over 30 minutes to enter as the line was massive. Once inside they give you a small candle to walk with through the crouching parts of the cave. There are two caves. The other one has a sound activated dragon in it where you can go up and clap in front of it to set off thunder noises and lights. Pretty good view of the pacific from the caves as well. Doesn’t take long at all to walk through the caves however the walk down to the caves and back up can be quite tough with the stairs. If you come to Enoshima you have to visit the...

Approximately 30 million years ago, the majority of Kanagawa prefecture was under the sea. The sea, along Enoshima area, seemed to be calm at the time, and the sand and mud was considerably thick on the sea floor. The layer of this period is called Hayama layer. Approximately 25 million years ago, the Hayama layer was heaved up. The upheaval formed a long mountain chain that extends from Tanzawa to Boso peninsula through Enoshima and Miura peninsula. As time passed, some of the Hayama layer was eroded and covered with new layer. The Zushi layer, which lay over the Hayama layer is now observable at the north end of Enoshima Island. It is said that Enoshima Island, itself rose up several times and appeared from sea surface about...