Enoshima Island hosts Shonan Candle from 10 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 07:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Shonan Candle 2026 runs at Enoshima Island in Fujisawa from 10 October to 3 November 2026.
- The programme places around 10,000 candles across the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle area each evening.
- Related events include an acoustic concert on 31 October, 1 November and 3 November 2026.
- The island is reached from Katase-Enoshima, Enoshima and Shonan-Enoshima stations by walking routes.
Enoshima Island hosts Shonan Candle 2026 in Fujisawa from 10 October to 3 November 2026, with the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle forming the main venues. The 25-day programme places around 10,000 candles across the island and adds concerts, displays and a collaboration with an anime series.
Shonan Candle 2026 brings 10,000 lights to the island
The event began on 10 October 2026 and continues through 3 November 2026. Its principal locations are the Samuel Cocking Garden, the Sea Candle observation tower and other island sites, as stated on the official event programme.
The main lighting period is listed as 5pm to 8pm, extending to 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The programme also includes a candle display in the Iwaya Cave, a photo slideshow on 10, 18 and 24 October, and an acoustic live event on 31 October, 1 November and 3 November 2026.
A collaboration with the Rascal Does Not Dream anime series runs during the main event. The official programme lists collaboration candles in the garden and a Sea Candle illumination from 16 to 18 October 2026.
Samuel Cocking Garden gives the candle event its setting
The Samuel Cocking Garden stands at 2-3-28 Enoshima in Fujisawa, Kanagawa. The prefectural tourism authority identifies the site as a garden containing the Sea Candle and records walking access from Katase-Enoshima, Enoshima and Shonan-Enoshima stations.
The garden connects the evening programme with one of the island’s established visitor areas rather than a temporary venue elsewhere in Fujisawa. Its plantings provide the setting for the candle displays, while the adjacent observation tower supplies a second named location in the event programme.
Fujisawa’s official tourism site describes the island as a historic destination for shrine worship since the Kamakura Period, from 1185 to 1333. It also records the island’s selection as the sailing venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, giving the current light festival a place within a wider religious and sporting history.
Concerts and special displays continue into early November
Several programme dates fall inside the remaining part of the event. Sunset Enoshima A Cappella is listed for 25 October 2026, while special performances at Enoshima Shrine are scheduled for 1 and 3 November 2026.
The organisers state that weather can change or cancel individual programme items. The event page says cancellation information is announced by noon on the day concerned, so the published schedule remains subject to those notices.
Visiting Enoshima Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Shonan Candle 2026 runs from 10 October to 3 November 2026 at the Samuel Cocking Garden, Sea Candle and other named island venues.
- The candle programme is an evening event, with the main lighting period listed as 5pm to 8pm and later closing on weekends and public holidays.
- Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line, Enoshima Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway and Shonan-Enoshima Station on the Shonan Monorail are the listed rail approaches.
- The route includes the island approach and uphill access to the garden, so visitors should expect walking and changes in level before reaching the main venues.
- 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 Candle 2026 take place at Enoshima Island?
It runs from 10 October to 3 November 2026, with the main candle displays centred on the Samuel Cocking Garden and Sea Candle.
Where is Enoshima Island and how do you get there?
It is in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. Rail approaches include Katase-Enoshima, Enoshima and Shonan-Enoshima stations, followed by a walk to the garden.
What is Enoshima Island?
It is an island destination in Fujisawa known for shrine worship, the Samuel Cocking Garden, the Sea Candle and the Iwaya Cave.
