5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[G02-P01] Recommendation for a Geowalk at the famous tourist destination “Enoshima” on the Shonan coast, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Keywords:Shonan Coast, Enoshima Island, Sagami Trough tectonic zone, Geographic and geological, Natural disasters, Geowalk
As you know, Enoshima Island, one of the most scenic spots on the Shonan coast in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a solitary gourd-shaped island floating in Sagami Bay with a circumference of approximately 5 km and an area of approximately 0.38 km2. This island is topographically known as a tied island because the beach is connected to the island by a sand spit that extends from the mouth of the Sakai River (Katase River). In the island, there are Enoshima Shrine, which enshrines Benten Gods, and historic hotels that is said to have been founded in the 1600s, and is a popular tourist spot comparable to the ancient capital Kamakura, bustling with tourists from both Japan and abroad.
In our presentation, we would like to propose the "Enoshima Geowalk" that will take you around the topographical and geological highlights of this island, one of the best tourist destinations on the Shonan coast. In particular, on this island, which directly faces the Sagami Trough, the topography and geology unique to the fluctuating region can be easily accessed by anyone using public transportation. We guess this island is a only place in the metropolitan area. We think it would be a good idea for families to take a little interest in the history of this island while sightseeing.
The Enoshima Geowalk starts in front of the Enoshima Tourist Information Center, located at the southern end of Enoshima Bentenbashi Bridge, and it is divided into two routes: the first half and the second half. The first half of the route starts in front of the Center, goes around the east side of the island, and returns back to the Center. The second half of the route takes you from in front of the Center to Zaibenten Nakamise Street, which is the main route for sightseeing in Enoshima, to Iwaya Cave. In total, the walking will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. The main observation points for each route are as follows.
The first half of the route is near Seitenjima Park, where the ground was uplifted by the AD 1703 Genroku Kanto Earthquake and is said to have become peninsula-shaped. The old wave-cut platform is now called the Iwaya surface, which was created by the earthquake. We will travel around the southeast coast of the island around Kamanokuchi, where the Hayama Group, an accretionary complex, can be observed, and around the Ryoshi-machi surface, the wave-cut platform that is slightly older than the Iwaya surface.
The second half of the route takes you to the vicinity of Zaibenten Nakamise Street, the marine terrace at the top of the island (Oharadai terrace), The Enoshima Sea Candle (lighthouse observation tower) where you can see the Hakone Volcano, the Tanzawa Mountains, the mountains of the Izu Peninsula, and the view of Tombolo, the vicinity of the “Yamafutatsu observation terrace” where the Kanto loam bed is exposed, the vicinity of Chigogafuchi where you can observe the Iwaya subsurface and the Hayama Group again, and finally the Iwaya Cave.
Furthermore, the Enoshima Shrine has a picture scroll called “Enoshima Engi”, which is said to have been written in the middle of the Heian period, and is said to have left behind the legends up to that time. It is widely known as the story of the birth of Enoshima Island, which features the five head dragon and Benten Gods associated with the Enoshima Shrine. The passage reads, “On April 13, 13th year of Emperor Kinmei's reign (AD 552), pitch black clouds covered the sky, deep tethers were buried, and after great earthquakes continued for 10 days, Benten Gods appeared from above the clouds. Enoshima was born when the four major gods associated with Fujin and Raijin gods, who followed them, caused stones fall from the sky, and rocks erupted from the sea along with bright red pillars of fire.” From a geological point of view, we would like to recommend that visitors think about the specific causes of the natural phenomena described in this tradition on the spot.
In our presentation, we would like to propose the "Enoshima Geowalk" that will take you around the topographical and geological highlights of this island, one of the best tourist destinations on the Shonan coast. In particular, on this island, which directly faces the Sagami Trough, the topography and geology unique to the fluctuating region can be easily accessed by anyone using public transportation. We guess this island is a only place in the metropolitan area. We think it would be a good idea for families to take a little interest in the history of this island while sightseeing.
The Enoshima Geowalk starts in front of the Enoshima Tourist Information Center, located at the southern end of Enoshima Bentenbashi Bridge, and it is divided into two routes: the first half and the second half. The first half of the route starts in front of the Center, goes around the east side of the island, and returns back to the Center. The second half of the route takes you from in front of the Center to Zaibenten Nakamise Street, which is the main route for sightseeing in Enoshima, to Iwaya Cave. In total, the walking will take approximately 2 to 3 hours. The main observation points for each route are as follows.
The first half of the route is near Seitenjima Park, where the ground was uplifted by the AD 1703 Genroku Kanto Earthquake and is said to have become peninsula-shaped. The old wave-cut platform is now called the Iwaya surface, which was created by the earthquake. We will travel around the southeast coast of the island around Kamanokuchi, where the Hayama Group, an accretionary complex, can be observed, and around the Ryoshi-machi surface, the wave-cut platform that is slightly older than the Iwaya surface.
The second half of the route takes you to the vicinity of Zaibenten Nakamise Street, the marine terrace at the top of the island (Oharadai terrace), The Enoshima Sea Candle (lighthouse observation tower) where you can see the Hakone Volcano, the Tanzawa Mountains, the mountains of the Izu Peninsula, and the view of Tombolo, the vicinity of the “Yamafutatsu observation terrace” where the Kanto loam bed is exposed, the vicinity of Chigogafuchi where you can observe the Iwaya subsurface and the Hayama Group again, and finally the Iwaya Cave.
Furthermore, the Enoshima Shrine has a picture scroll called “Enoshima Engi”, which is said to have been written in the middle of the Heian period, and is said to have left behind the legends up to that time. It is widely known as the story of the birth of Enoshima Island, which features the five head dragon and Benten Gods associated with the Enoshima Shrine. The passage reads, “On April 13, 13th year of Emperor Kinmei's reign (AD 552), pitch black clouds covered the sky, deep tethers were buried, and after great earthquakes continued for 10 days, Benten Gods appeared from above the clouds. Enoshima was born when the four major gods associated with Fujin and Raijin gods, who followed them, caused stones fall from the sky, and rocks erupted from the sea along with bright red pillars of fire.” From a geological point of view, we would like to recommend that visitors think about the specific causes of the natural phenomena described in this tradition on the spot.