Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway)

This eye-catching train line, casting its retro charm throughout the seaside town of Kamakura, is the best way to get around prime sightseeing spots along the Shonan coast.

Only an hour away from Tokyo by train (via the Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar), you’ll easily be checking off sites on your Kamakura bucket list as the Enoden conveniently whisks you away to sandy beaches, historical temples and shrines, and a mosaic of colorful districts that boast their own seaside flavor.

The Enoden is a bit of a celebrity across Japan.

But it’s the Enoden’s own historical charm – first departing on Christmas Day at the turn of the 20th century – that continues to draw tourists all aboard this colorful light rail streetcar. A regular star of Japanese TV dramas, movies and anime, the Enoden is nostalgic railroad charm incarnated.

Shuttling passengers to and from two prominent tourist spots, Enoshima and Kamakura, the start of the Enoden Line actually begins at Fujisawa Station and concludes its run at Kamakura – stopping at Hase where you get off to reach the Kamakura Daibutsu or Great Buddha.

A local commuter train, the Shonan Monorail is a suspended monorail running between Ofuna and Enoshima stations that’s also good fun to ride around Kamakura.

With a total of 15 stops along its scenic train route, it only takes 30 minutes to cover the entire length of this 10 km interurban railway. While it certainly fulfills its function as a tourist tram over the weekends and during peak travel season (read: the sweltering summertime), it simultaneously serves as a commuter transit for local residents who are lucky enough to ride this moving piece of history on the daily.

With platforms still retaining retro charm through their classic wooden architecture hop on the locally loved Enoden the next time you take a break from the big city.

For more on trains and other transport in Japan, check out our Japan 101 guide.