Overview
Enoshima is a small inhabited island lying off the coast of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture. To distinguish it from the more famous Enoshima in Kanagawa and other islands of the same name, it is also called Rikuzen-Enoshima. Covering roughly 0.36 square kilometers with a circumference of about 3.7 kilometers and a height of some 75 meters, it was home to about 50 residents as of late November 2020. Together with several uninhabited islets nearby it forms the Enoshima Islands, offering visitors an unspoiled scene of island life set in the Sanriku sea.
Highlights
- ●The romance of crossing by boat to a small inhabited island 3.7 kilometers around
- ●The plain, Sanriku-style seascape formed by the Enoshima Islands and their islets
- ●Views over the sea-ringed island from a height of some 75 meters
- ●The quiet, uncommercialized island time of a village of about 50 people
History
Close to the rich fishing grounds off the Sanriku coast, Enoshima has long been home to a small community clustered on its limited land, carrying the particular history of a remote island. Its name is often written in variant Japanese forms, though the correct spelling is the one meaning simply “river island.” For detailed accounts of its past it is best to check on-site or official sources, yet the quiet memory of a life shaped by the surrounding sea still lingers here.
Access
The island sits offshore from Onagawa, around 38.40 degrees north and 141.59 degrees east, and is reached from the mainland by boat. Scheduled ferries departing from central Onagawa are the usual way across, but timetables and departure points can change with the season and sea conditions, so please confirm the latest service details through official sources before setting out. The crossing over the Sanriku sea is itself part of the pleasure of visiting.
Best season
Spring through autumn, when the sea is calmer and boats run more reliably, is the easiest time to visit. Early summer and summer are especially rewarding, with vivid blue water and comfortable conditions for walking the island. In winter, seasonal winds can make the sea rough and cancel sailings, so always check whether crossings are running. In any season, allow extra time in your plans, as the day-to-day sea conditions can affect the schedule.
Map
38.3986, 141.5942 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Check the ferry schedule in central Onagawa and cross by boat to Enoshima
- 2On arrival, stroll slowly through the island village and take in island life
- 3Climb to a high point to look out over the Enoshima Islands and the Sanriku sea
- 4Return to the harbor in time for the ferry and sail back to the mainland
Did you know?
💡 The name Enoshima appears in several places across Japan, the best known being the island in Kanagawa. The Miyagi island is therefore also called Rikuzen-Enoshima, and together with its surrounding uninhabited islets it is collectively known as the Enoshima Islands. As its population of about 50 suggests, the real charm here is the chance to experience an unhurried, uncommercialized island pace of life.
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