The Miura Peninsula is only about 60 ~ 70 km from the central part of Tokyo and can be reached in about an hour to an hour and a half. Here you can eat fresh seafood at reasonable prices and enjoy the rich natural environment in perhaps the closest resort area to Tokyo.
In this article, we will give you seven good reasons why you should visit the Miura Peninsula.
- Table of Contents
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- 1. It's a resort area surrounded by the sea and the closest to Tokyo
- 2. Lots of gourmet seafood and stylish cafes
- 3. Get a feel of the history by visiting shrines and temples
- 4. Several parks where you can come into contact with nature and animals
- 5. Get a close look at the US and Japanese warships on the Yokosuka Military Port Tour
- 6. Lots of Tokyo day-trip spas
- 7. Learn about Japanese culture by visiting museums of literature and natural history
1. It's a resort area surrounded by the sea and the closest to Tokyo
The Miura Peninsula is located in the eastern part of Kanagawa Prefecture which is next door to Tokyo. It only takes about an hour and a half by train to get there which makes access from the city easy.
The Miura Peninsula juts out into the Pacific Ocean; Tokyo Bay is to the east and to its west is Sagami Bay. It is an area blessed by an abundance of nature where you can escape from the clamor of the big city.
The coastline has many beaches as well as spots for scuba diving and in recent years marine sports such as SUP (stand-up paddle boarding).
2. Lots of gourmet seafood and stylish cafes
Another good reason for visiting the Miura Peninsula is the availability of fresh seafood gourmet dishes offered at reasonable prices. There are many places offering fresh surf and turf delicacies, items such as tuna and whitebait.
Several places serve Kaisendon - hearty servings of tuna, salmon roe, whitebait, young Japanese amberjack, and other seasonal marine products on bowls of rice - for which the Miura Peninsula is famous and we highly recommend you visit them.
If you are unsure of which restaurant to visit, then we recommend purchasing a Misaki Maguro Kippu (Misaki Tuna Ticket); these are sold in vending machines in all Keikyu Line stations.
In addition to train and bus tickets, you can also get special dishes by selecting one from participating restaurants and extra service with the Maguro Mampuku Ken (Eat Your Fill of Tuna Ticket) and if you buy it together with the Miura Misaki Omohide Ken (Miura and Misaki Memory Ticket) you can enjoy even more special deals on the Miura Peninsula.
Also, along the coast and in the Hayama area there are chic cafes noted for their pancakes and sweets, ideal for a “gourmet tour”.
3. Get a feel of the history by visiting shrines and temples
Kamakura, which was at one time an old capital of Japan, is also located on the Miura Peninsula and here there are many famous shrines and temples worth visiting.
Hasedera Temple, famous for its flowers that bloom throughout the four seasons, and Kotokuin, famous for the Great Buddha of Kamakura, are near the center of Kamakura, as is the Hachiman Shrine, of which there are many scattered throughout Japan, and there are many other locations where you can enjoy Japanese shrines and temples.
There are also several temples and shrines noted for their hydrangea which are in bloom during the rainy season and up to the start of summer with many people coming just to see these at those times.
4. Several parks where you can come into contact with nature and animals
The temples and shrines on the Miura Peninsula are rich in history and places where you can feel nature and there are also places where you can come into contact with animals.
The peninsula also has many leisure facilities such as the Kurihama Flower Park which boasts more than a million poppies blooming in spring and cosmos in autumn, the Kannonzaki Park where you can enjoy athletics and playing at the beach, the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise and the Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park aquariums, and the Soleil Hill petting zoo.
There are activities and attractions for people of all ages whether it be seasonal flowers in bloom or petting animals in this resort area by the sea.
5. Get a close look at the US and Japanese warships on the Yokosuka Military Port Tour
Yokosuka, located on the Miura Peninsula, has a long history as a naval town. On the Yokosuka Military Port Tour, the only sightseeing boat cruise in a military harbor in Japan, you can see submarines and other large warships from the water which normally you would not be able to see.
Not only can you see Maritime Self Defense Force submarines and escort ships, but sometimes even US Navy Aegis-class cruisers. For a military naval port, this is a great sightseeing spot.
6. Lots of Tokyo day-trip spas
In addition to places where you can leisurely spend the night on the Miura Peninsula, there are also places that can be enjoyed on a day trip.
Take a side trip from your sightseeing in Tokyo and visit one of the many hot spring resorts such as the Spasso at the Kannonzaki Keikyu Hotel where you can view the sea from an open-air bath, the Yokosuka Hot Spring Yura-no-Sato, the Soleil Hill “Sunset over the Sea Bath” at Soleil Hill that uses Provence in Southern France for its motif, and Maholova Minds Miura where in bathing suits you can enjoy a natural hot spring bath using the highly acclaimed discharge/circulation system that relieves fatigue and moisturizes the skin.
7. Learn about Japanese culture by visiting museums of literature and natural history
Kamakura has a connection with literary types, such as the authors Kawabata Yasunari, Natsume Soseki, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, and Yosano Akiko; in fact, more than 300 in all.
The Kamakura Museum of Literature has a large collection of manuscripts, letters, and other objects of literary giants which it puts on display. Also, in addition to literary exhibitions connected to Zushi, the Zushi City Homeland History Museum exhibits archaeological discoveries unearthed from old megalithic tombs in the city and folklore materials, like furnishings, that were actually used, and at the Hakushu Memorial Library there are exhibitions of the works of Kitahara Hakushu, a famous Japanese literary giant.
There are many wonderful spots on the Miura Peninsula where you can enjoy gourmet dishes and sightseeing. This is a resort area that is just a stone’s throw away from Tokyo. So, by all means, take time to visit and enjoy the natural scenery and ocean view!
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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