Enoshima Island hosts Shonan no Hoseki from 1 December

Enoshima Island hosts Shonan no Hoseki from 1 December 2026, bringing a winter illumination programme to Fujisawa in Japan. The event covers the Samuel Cocking Garden, the Sea Candle and locations across the island and nearby Katase Beach.

Shonan no Hoseki begins across Enoshima Island on 1 December

The Shonan Fujisawa Vitalization Consortium is organising the 27th edition of Shonan no Hoseki. The programme runs from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027, making it an event for visitors travelling through the winter rather than a short Christmas display.

The operator’s programme lists the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle as the main venues, with illuminated areas extending to island paths, shrine precincts, plazas, bridges and parts of the Katase Beach area. The official event page also lists the Hikari no Daikukan light space, the Shonan Chandelier and the Shonan no Hoseki entrance display. The official programme for Shonan no Hoseki gives the dates and venues.

How the winter illumination uses the island landscape

The Sea Candle stands inside the Samuel Cocking Garden, so the event links its central light installations with one of the island’s principal viewpoints. A light space is suspended from the tower, while the garden programme includes a chandelier tunnel, an illuminated entrance and the low-power LED display called Hoseki Forest.

The wider route gives the programme a different geography from a single garden exhibition. The official page names Enoshima Shrine, Nakatsu-no-miya Square, Kamegaoka Square, the path towards the Lovers’ Hill Bell of the Dragon and the island bridges among the illuminated locations. A further installation runs along the palm-lined route beside National Route 134.

The setting also carries a documented history. English merchant Samuel Cocking established the botanical garden in 1862, and the grounds now cover 10,000 square metres. The Fujisawa City tourism guide identifies the garden’s mix of Japanese and European influences and places the Sea Candle within it.

The Sea Candle gives the programme its vertical centre

The Sea Candle is an observation lighthouse with a height of 59.8 metres. It provides a 360-degree view over Sagami Bay, while the garden below supplies the principal ground-level setting for the winter lighting.

This arrangement means that the programme can be read at two levels: installations surround visitors on paths and in garden spaces, while the tower forms the central structure above them. The relationship between the tower and the garden is specific to the site and explains why the event extends beyond a conventional display in one enclosed venue.

Shonan no Hoseki was recognised as one of Japan’s Three Great Illuminations in 2025. The current programme page also states that displays may change because of weather, so individual outdoor elements should be treated as subject to operational updates.

Visiting Enoshima Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Shonan no Hoseki runs from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027 at the Samuel Cocking Garden, Sea Candle and other locations on Enoshima Island and around Katase Beach.
• The programme affects the island’s garden, shrine approaches, plazas, bridges and named walking routes, while the official schedule identifies the Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden as its main venues.
• Enoshima Island is part of Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture. The Samuel Cocking Garden is a 20-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line and a 25-minute walk from Enoshima Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway.
• The island route includes stone steps and an uphill approach. The Enoshima Escar moves upwards through four sections, while the Sea Candle and Samuel Cocking Garden are located higher on the island.
• Japan’s official language is Japanese and its 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 Island

When does Shonan no Hoseki take place at Enoshima Island?

Shonan no Hoseki runs from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027 across the island and Katase Beach area.

What is Enoshima Island?

It is an island site in Fujisawa, Japan, containing the Samuel Cocking Garden, the Sea Candle and routes linked with Enoshima Shrine.

Where is Enoshima Island and how do you get there?

The island is in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, and can be reached on foot from Katase-Enoshima Station or Enoshima Station.