For a summer day trip from Tokyo with a cool sea breeze, fresh seafood and small beaches, look no further than the heavenly Miura Peninsula.
Miura Peninsula is the landmass at the southern end of Kanagawa prefecture that splits Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay from one another. The trip to Misakiguchi Station takes about an hour from central Tokyo followed by a short 20-minute bus ride to reach the port town of Miura and its cool sea breeze.
Sounds good, but is it cheapo-friendly? This is where it becomes interesting actually. The railway company Keikyu offers a discount day trip ticket from Shinagawa or Haneda Airport to the peninsula for only ¥3,770 that includes a fresh seafood lunch and discounts on activities in the area.
Gone fishin’
Every morning the fishing boats return to the port of Miura with fresh fish caught right off the shore. With such an abundance of fresh seafood on its doorstep, it leaves little to wonder why Miura is so famous for its tuna.
Almost all the restaurants included in the ticket are located in the port and, as you might have guessed, all of them are a great choice for delicious fresh tuna. The most popular dish by far is maguro donburi, or tuna bowl. The cooked rice topped with delicate tuna sashimi is a foodie’s dream come true.
Jogashima Island
After this well-deserved lunch, you can head across the waters to Jogashima Island.
The island features a recommended course with signage that takes you around the island in about 90 minutes. From spectacular views of the ocean rushing into the island’s rock formations to countless species of birds, there is rarely a boring view during your stroll. Feel free to bring some snacks from Miura to enjoy the scenery at one of the many picnic spots along the route. Be careful of larger birds swooping in to steal your snack though!
Apart from its breathtaking nature, Jogashima Island is also home to quite a piece of international history. The Jogashima Lighthouse was built during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate as part of a treaty with Great Britain but was actually designed by a French engineer. Although the original lighthouse was destroyed during the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923, its replacement still safely guides ships into Tokyo Bay.
Discounted attractions around Miura Peninsula
There are quite a few options to use the discount coupon you get with your ticket but two, in particular, stand out for a summer trip.
The small but very entertaining Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park, for example, is home to a variety of sea life. What makes the park so unique is the fact that you can get really close to the animals and even shake hands with the otters or pet the dolphins. The park is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00.
Another option would be to relax your muscles and take a dip in one of the hot springs partnering with Keikyu. The Miuramahoroba Hot Spring with its waters coming from 1,500 m underground is open every day from 9:00 to 22:00 and is just 5 minutes from Miurakaigan Station. Be aware though that there is a schedule for the outdoor bath whereby men go in the morning and women in the afternoon.
