Southwest of Kamakura, the island of Enoshima juts up from the water of Sagami Bay, connected to the mainland by bridge. For centuries, it has been a place of pilgrimage associated with the goddess Benten, who is believed to have created Enoshima before subduing a disruptive, five-headed dragon. Though it may be small, the island is full of interesting spots to explore: beautiful shrines, a surprisingly stylish lighthouse, an English garden, and ancient caves. The walk around the island is also punctuated by stunning vistas out over the ocean, with Mount Fuji visible to the west on a clear day. Adding to Enoshima’s charm are the narrow, winding paths flanked by traditional Japanese houses, stacked pell-mell along the cliffs, as well as the quirky escalators built to carry visitors up some of the hills. A number of independent cafés and traditional restaurants dot the island, and adventurous foodies can visit ice cream vendors selling bizarre flavors such as shirasu, a local delicacy comprising thousands of tiny translucent white fish.