Enoshima Electric Railway (Enoden)

Enoshima Electric Railway, affectionately known as the “Enoden,” is a private railway operating an approximately 10-kilometer line connecting Fujisawa City and Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture. The line opened in 1902 between Fujisawa and Katase (now Enoshima), and for more than 120 years it has served both as a vital means of daily transportation for local residents and as a key railway supporting tourism in the area.

One of the Enoden’s defining features is the variety of scenery along the route-ranging from residential neighborhoods with historic temples and traditional townhouses to coastal stretches and sections where trains run directly on the street. In particular, the seaside segment between Inamuragasaki Station and Koshigoe Station offers expansive, Shonan-style ocean views and is well known as a favorite photo spot for visitors.

The line also includes some of Japan’s sharpest curves on shared roadways, with trains passing so close to houses that they seem to brush past the eaves. This unique way of running in harmony with the local community is part of what makes the Enoden so distinctive, evoking both everyday life along the line and a strong sense of travel nostalgia.