Koajiro No Mori

The Koajiro-no-Mori Forest is located at the tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture and is a water catchment area of the Ura-no-kawa River, which runs through the valley in the center. A continuous stretch of land from the forest, marsh, and mudflat to the sea remains in its natural state and is an extremely precious resource. A variety of creatures including rare species is forming various ecosystems. Particularly, red-clawed crabs (Chiromantes haematocheir) that require an ecosystem of a forest, river, and the sea to survive represents this forest. A red-clawed crab is called ”a crab living in a forest,” and it can survive away from the water. Thus, you can spot one in the forest. There are also some nights when the forest is open to the public for firefly observation from late May to early June, and you can see two types of Japanese fireflies, Luciola cruciata and Luciola lateralis. Many areas are kept untouched in the Koajiro-no-Mori Forest, so some creatures may be dangerous. It is advisable to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, and shoes suitable for walking when you visit. It is a 30-minute walk from the Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Express or a 5-minute walk from the Hikibashi Terminal bus stop by catching a bus from the Misakiguchi Station.