Enoshima hosts Shonan Candle through 3 November 2026

Enoshima hosts Shonan Candle from 10 October to 3 November 2026, bringing a multi-venue lighting programme to this coastal island in Fujisawa, Japan. More than 10,000 candles are planned across the Samuel Cocking Garden, the Sea Candle observation tower and other visitor sites.

The event is already under way on 24 October, while further programmes remain scheduled through the final weekend. The date range and venues are set out by the Fujisawa City Tourist Association.

Shonan Candle continues across Enoshima until 3 November

Shonan Candle runs for 25 evenings and uses the Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden as its main venue. The lighting also extends to the Enoshima Sea Candle observation tower and Enoshima Iwaya Cave, linking the island's hilltop and western coastal attractions.

The organiser's programme includes the Norimoto Ichikawa slide show on 24 October, with two presentations at 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Shonan Candle Live is scheduled for 31 October, 1 November and 3 November, with acoustic performances from 6pm at the garden event stage. A Balinese dance programme is listed for 1 November at Enoshima Shrine's Hetsumiya, while FILM BRASS is scheduled there on 3 November. The 2026 event programme also lists an upcycled candle workshop at UMIYAMA GALLERY and candle lighting inside Iwaya Cave.

The programme follows Enoshima's main visitor route

The lighting is arranged around several named attractions rather than a single stage. The Samuel Cocking Garden sits on the upper part of the island beside the Sea Candle, while Iwaya Cave lies among the western shoreline sights. This gives the programme a clear geographical link to the places that structure a visit.

The event page says that more than 200 candles are placed inside Iwaya Cave. At the garden, the workshop reuses wax from earlier editions, and the slide show presents views of the Shonan coast. The result is a programme that combines the island's landscape, an observation tower, a cave and a cultural venue instead of treating the lighting as one isolated display.

The official Sea Candle listing confirms the same 10 October to 3 November period and identifies the garden, tower and cave as venues. It also places the lighting within the island's established attraction network, documented on the official Shonan Candle page.

Visiting Enoshima: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Shonan Candle takes place from 10 October to 3 November 2026 at the Samuel Cocking Garden, Sea Candle and Iwaya Cave on Enoshima.
• The programme is an evening lighting event, but access may be paused, limited or cancelled because of rain, strong winds or congestion.
• Fujisawa is served by the Odakyu Enoshima Line, the Enoden Line and the Shonan Monorail. Direct trains from Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Tokyo and Ueno reach Fujisawa in around one hour.
• The island route includes an uphill section towards the garden and observation tower, while Iwaya Cave is on the western side of the island. The Enoshima Escar provides an uphill route in three sections.
• The official language is Japanese and the national currency is the yen.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Enoshima

When does Shonan Candle take place at Enoshima?

Shonan Candle runs from 10 October to 3 November 2026. Its programme includes candle lighting at the garden, Sea Candle and Iwaya Cave.

Where is Enoshima and how do you get there?

Enoshima is in Fujisawa, Japan. The island is reached through the Fujisawa rail network, including the Odakyu Enoshima Line, Enoden Line and Shonan Monorail.

What is Enoshima?

Enoshima is a coastal island visitor area with the Samuel Cocking Garden, Sea Candle observation tower, Enoshima Shrine and Iwaya Cave.