Yachts in Sagami Bay (Photo: Elena Lisina)

The 2020 Olympic Games: Enoshima Yacht Harbor

The venue for sailing

Yachts in Sagami Bay (Photo: Elena Lisina)
Elena Lisina   - 4 min read

The Enoshima Yacht Harbor is located on Enoshima Island, close to Fujisawa City. Enoshima Yacht Harbor was built for the 1964 Olympic Games and was the very first harbor to host water sport competitions in Japan.

Sailing at the Olympic Games first appeared at the 1900 summer Olympics in Paris and has been included in the program of subsequent Games except the 1904 Games in St. Louis. Competitions are held using several types of yachts. Both men and women take part in the competition, but since the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul, separate or mixed standings in some yacht classes have been included. There are currently 10 medal earning Olympic events in sailing: 5 for men, 4 for women, and 1 in the mixed event. The Enoshima Yacht Harbor venue capacity is 3600 spectators.

The Enoshima Yacht Harbor
The Enoshima Yacht Harbor

Facing the Pacific Ocean Enoshima may be a small island in Sagami Bay, but it’s one of the most popular places among tourists. On Enoshima you can find traditional Enoshima Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples, the Samuel Cocking Botanical Garden and a tower-lighthouse Sea Candle. From its observation deck are some grand views across Sagami Bay and the open coast. On clear days Fuji-san is visible. On Enoshima there are many souvenir shops, restaurants, the Enoshima spa and places to rest. And that's not all – the side of the island facing Sagami Bay has a beautiful rocky coast and the Iwaya Caves. A whole day is not enough to explore Enoshima!

Enoshima Shrine
Enoshima Shrine
Sagami Bay facing the Pacific Ocean
Sagami Bay facing the Pacific Ocean

You can also visit Enoshima Aquarium. Walking along the Katase Higashihama Beach and then Koshigoe Beach you'll find Koshigoe Fishing Port, Koyurugi Shrine and Koyurugisanjosen Temple. Close to Shonan-Enoshima Station are more temples including Ryuko-ji Temple with its antique market every third Sunday of the month. A trip on the old-fashioned Enoden train sees you travel along the coast to Kamakura – one of the best tourist spots of Kanto and, indeed, Japan.

Enoden train
Enoden train

Getting there

The Enoshima Yacht Harbor is a 20-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line, a
25-minute walk from Enoshima Station on the Enoden Line or a 25-minute walk from Shonan-Enoshima Station on the Shonan Monorail Line.

Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina @shiroi.tenshi

I am interested in Japanese art, crafts, history and Shinto religion. Photography is my hobby, and there are many amazing places to capture in Japan.