This past Saturday, I went for a bit of a special workout.
I hopped on the first westbound train of the day, changed trains at Chuo-Rinkan, and arrived in Katase-Enoshima at 0612 (6:12AM – I typically use 24-hour notation).
The latter station’s architecture is inspired by a fairy tale about a man named Urashima Taro 浦島太郎. He was taken by fairies to an underwater castle, and enjoyed his stay there so much that he lost all memory of his life on the ground by the time he came back.
I enjoy my snack bar and coffee on Katase east beach, then start my journey eastward. I’ve been here countless times, but this is the first time I hike in this direction first thing in the morning.
The early bird indeed catches the worm. Tourists are typically not here before 0900, so I get to enjoy a local’s perspective. Turn up your sound and enjoy the sound of the waves!
The Enoshima Electric Railway runs between Kamakura and Fujisawa, and is famous for running right on Sagami Bay. Affectionately referred to as the Enoden, for short.
Trains are typically full of tourists on weekends, but I personally feel that the best way to enjoy it is to walk alongside the tracks.
On some stretches you really come shoulder-to-shoulder with the tracks, as you can see in this video. Be alert!
How do surfers get to the beach? Usually on bicycles, equipped with a simple rack for the surfboard:
Alas, I found several stretches of the seaside footpath closed. A storm in 2019 inflicted severe damage on this road, and they are still working to repair it.
As an upside – they installed ladders for earthquakes and other emergencies. A true life saver.
And the view from Inamuragasaki (translates to “Inamura Point”) is still nothing short of fantastic.
Workout with a view of Mount Fuji – what an idea!
Hats off to these volunteers working to keep this beach beautiful.
After hiking more than 7 kilometers along the beach, it’s time for breakfast in Zaimokuza.
This café is called Seasons, and staffed by a pair of very friendly and cheerful ladies.
The panini sandwich is fresh off the oven and full of mozzarella. I would love to come again and watch the sunset over a beer!
So you thought this is the end of this hike?
Nope, we are not even halfway through. Stay tuned for Part 2!
