The number of people paying winter visits to Enoshima island in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, is soaring, prompted by the three-month series of events known as "Shonan Jewels-Festivities of light and color that adorn Enoshima."
Interest has been fueled by the selection of the series in 2012 as one of three principal illumination events in the Kanto region, and this year travel companies have significantly increased their bus tours to the island.
City officials and other people concerned have been working to boost year-round tourism, and while the Shonan area is strongly associated with summer, they feel their efforts have helped the idea take root that it can also be fun in winter.
Shonan Jewels is the overall name, adopted in 2011, for the series of winter events that take place on Enoshima. The festivities kick off with the illumination in December of the Enoshima Sea Candle observatory-lighthouse. January sees the blooming of about 20,000 tulips in the Winter Tulip event at the Enoshima Samuel Cocking Garden.
The series wraps up with the Valentine Island event in February, in which the garden and surrounding areas are adorned with mirror balls and other illuminations.
This year, illumination of the Sea Candle began Nov. 30 and will continue through Feb. 2. The illumination period is 20 days longer than the previous installment, and the decorated area has been expanded. The result is a mystical atmosphere in which the entire island seems to be lit up.
