Ryûjin-no-Iwaya

monument The cave and the rock on the backyard of Enoshima, which are carved by the nature of sea, used to be believed to be the residence of Ryûjin, or Dragon God, which is regarded as the guardian deity on sea and weather.
To-day few people visit there for faith. Instead many people enjoy fishing in fine days.

There are stone Buddhas in the cave just like the day when Hearn visited. But the officers on sightseeing added there some introduction board, coloured cobbles on the road, and the figure of dragon decorated by sound effects and flash lights.
In this way Hearn's memories were destroyed at all. To-day the place is far from being in a divine mood, which made Hearn called this trip "Pilgrimage".
The entrance fee for the cave is 500 yen.

Access
map You can easily go to Iwaya (place #4 on the map) by going down the stairs on the left side of Okutsu-no-Miya.
Boats are also available from the side of Enoshima-Ôhashi (cancelled in case being windy), its fee is 300 yen.

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