An eco-friendly journey by EV ~ Ride along the sea and green peninsula loved by artists!
Manazuru Peninsula is a small peninsula that pops out in the southwestern part of Kanagawa Prefecture. Located between the bustling cities of Odawara and Yugawara, the town has chosen to create a town that meets its own ``standards of beauty'' and retains a rich natural environment and a quiet lifestyle.
We visited the scenery of the peninsula, which was loved by painters, in an environmentally friendly EV.
《Click here for this strolling route》
The start point is the intersection in front of JR Manazuru Station. Once you turn National Route 135 toward the sea and enter Prefectural Route 739, there is basically one road that goes around the peninsula, so you don't have to worry about getting lost.
As I went down the hill, the view opened up and Manazuru Port came into view. There is also a yacht harbor next to the fish market, so you can feel like you are in a resort.
On the second floor of the fish market is Sakanaza, a Japanese restaurant where you can enjoy freshly caught seafood. On days when the weather is nice, the ocean-view terrace seats look comfortable.
They open from 10am, so we had a slightly late breakfast.
There are various set menus such as set meals, so it's hard to decide, but on this day I chose the "local fish three-piece bowl" (1,780 yen + tax). I'm very satisfied!
"Pisces"
[Business hours] 10:00-15:00
[Regular holidays] Irregular holidays
[Address] 1947-2 Manazuru, Manazuru Town
[TEL] 0465-68-6511
*The official website can be viewed here .
Kibune Shrine, the town's guardian, is right near the port, so don't forget to say hello.
It has a long history, and is said to have been founded in the first year of the Kanpei era (889), and is said to enshrine Okuninushi, Kotoshironushi, and Sukunahikona.
Speaking of Kibune Shrine , it is famous for the ``Kibune Festival,'' a brave and splendid festival held on July 27th and 28th every year. The festival is unique in that the mikoshi is floated over the sea from the shrine on top of the mountain and then appears in the town, and has been designated as a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
《Kibune Shrine》
[Address] 1117 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-0066
*The official website can be viewed here .
After driving along the coastline for a while, you will see Kotogahama Beach . Known as the birthplace of diving in Japan, the ocean clarity is amazing!
There is a well-maintained parking lot and promenade, so you can often see families with their lunch boxes on their days off.
After climbing a somewhat steep slope, the path continues into the forest .
Forests began in the Edo period when pine seedlings allocated to the Odawara clan by order of the shogunate were planted when a large amount of lumber was needed due to the Meireki Great Fire. After the Meiji Restoration, it became an imperial forest and access to it was restricted to the general public, but after the war it became a national forest, and in 1951 it was sold to Manazuru Town.
Currently, it is a primeval forest that is home to hundreds of species of plants and wild birds, including black pines and camphor trees that are over 30 meters tall, and is carefully protected as a ``Fishing Conservation Forest.''
After passing through the forest , you will arrive at Cape Manazuru, located at the tip of the Manazuru Peninsula. Keisho and Mitsuishi are just a short walk from here. In addition to shops, Cape Manazuru also has a cafe and a free rest room, so take a break before heading out.
《 Cape Manazuru 》
[Business hours] 9:00-16:00 (Cafe opens from 10:00)
[Address] 1175-1 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-1112
*The official website can be viewed here .
*Cape Manazuru's business operations will change from April 1, 2020 due to a change in operator. Please check the website for details.
I found an EV quick charger in a corner of the rotary in front of the facility! It's free!
Reception is open from 9:00 to 15:00. You can borrow the key from the reception desk at Cape Manazuru . However, since I could easily make the round trip from Yokohama without having to charge, I parked in a public parking lot that day.
A place you should definitely stop by is the Endo Shellfish Museum on the second floor of Cape Manazuru. Don't miss the collection, which includes 50,000 specimens of 4,500 species collected by Haruo Endo, a shellfish researcher from Manazuru Town, over his lifetime. In addition, as a "museum of the sea," we hold various events where you can experience the natural charm of the Manazuru Peninsula.
In the exhibition room, we display not only shellfish found in the sea of Manazuru and shellfish that live in Sagami Bay, but also rare shellfish that cannot be found in Japan.
A ``Glistening Shell Craft Kit'' is on sale at the museum. There are abalone shell chips inside, so just polish them with the included file and attach the strap to create a sparkling keychain. This one-of-a-kind original accessory is sure to become a wonderful memory of your trip.
《 Manazuru Town Endo Shellfish Museum 》
[Opening hours] 9:30-16:30 (Admission until 16:00)
[Closed] Thursdays
[Admission fee] Adults: 300 yen, Elementary school to high school students: 150 yen *Manazuru/Yugawara townspeople: Free
[Address] 1175 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-2111
*The official website can be viewed here .
As you exit the museum, there are sculptures made from Komatsu stone, a specialty of Manazuru. This work by sculptor Atsuya Tominaga was created for the "Manazuru Town Stone Sculpture Festival" held in September 2019, and the title is "Heart-shaped Stone (Love Stone)." If you touch it gently, something wonderful will happen.
Image provided by: Manazuru Town Tourism AssociationA wonderful spot like this has also been created right next door!
Since it is a two-seater, it can be enjoyed by both couples and parents and children.
From the observation deck at the tip of the cape, you can see Mitsuishi, which is famous as the spot for the first sunrise of the year. If you look around, you can see a panoramic view of Hatsushima, Izu Oshima, and the Izu Peninsula.
From the left side of the observation deck, there are stairs leading to the coast. There are nearly 300 steps, so it might be difficult to get back down once you get to the bottom, but let's take the opportunity to go down.
It's even more impressive when you see it up close!
The coast near this area was created by lava that erupted 150,000 years ago, and is said to be home to a variety of creatures such as shellfish, shrimp, crabs, and fish. At low tide, a rocky reef about 200 meters long toward the coast appears, and it is said that you can walk across it to Mitsuishi , but it is very slippery, so be careful where you step.
After climbing the 300 steps, we resumed driving!
Most of the roads that run through the forest are one-way, so you can enjoy different views on the way there and back. The good thing about EVs is that they are quiet and there is no engine noise. Let's take a leisurely ride while feeling the rustle of the trees and the sound of the ocean in the distance.
There is also a promenade in the forest , so hikers can be seen here and there. There are places where giant trees protrude into the road, so you need to be careful when driving.
Once you pass through the one-way section, you will see the Nakagawa Kazumasa Museum .
Born in Tokyo in 1893, Mr. Nakagawa set up an atelier in Manazuru-cho in 1949 after the end of the war, and based his creative activities here.
Mr. Nakagawa, who loved Manazuru, liked to draw things such as ``Fukuura,'' a fishing village at the western base of the peninsula, as well as ``roses'' and ``sunflowers.'' In addition, works such as rock paintings using mineral pigments, calligraphy, and ceramics remain, and the more you tour the museum, the more you will be fascinated by their wide range of talent.
Near the museum, there is a recreation of Mr. Nakagawa's atelier. The actual paints, canvases, furniture, etc. that were used have been moved into the space, making it seem as if the artist is still continuing his creative activities.
《 Manazuru Town Nakagawa Kazumasa Museum 》
[Opening hours] 9:30-16:30 (Admission until 16:00)
[Closed] Wednesdays (open on holidays), December 28th - January 3rd
[Admission fee] Adults: 600 yen, High school students and under: 350 yen
[Address] 1178-1 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-1128
*The official website can be viewed here .
Mr. Nakagawa is not the only painter who loved Manazuru and moved there. Takashi Hotta, who has been active as a painter in Cagnes in southern France for 40 years, is one of them. When he returned to Japan, he was looking for a "scenery similar to southern France" and came across Manazuru. In 2014, he opened the Hotta Takayo Art Museum to exhibit his works.
The building that is open to the public as a Western art museum was built by a businessman and later used as a doctor's vacation home. You can see the Hakone Mountain Range, Izu Peninsula, and Sagami Bay from the large windows in the living room, and it feels very comfortable!
Mr. Hotta passed away a few years ago, so his wife is currently running the business almost by herself. Surrounded by brightly colored works of art and listening to them reminisce about their days spent in the south of France, it's easy to forget that you're actually in Japan.
《 Hotta Takayo Art Museum 》
[Opening hours] 11:00-16:30
[Opening days] Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays
[Admission fee] Free
[Address] 1414 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-5032
When I returned to Manazuru Port, I found a cute looking restaurant called honohono . The white walls and large windows facing the sea give it a stylish appearance reminiscent of a European resort.
The inside of the store is a comfortable space with plenty of natural light. Surrounded by Scandinavian-style interiors, including comfortable chairs, you can enjoy a relaxing meal.
By the way, the store's name is apparently derived from the Hawaiian language, with ``hono'' meaning ``inlet'' and ``honohono'' meaning ``walk.''
Lunch is a set menu, and you can choose your main dish from fish, meat, two types of pasta, and curry. Here, I chose "Fish Lunch (1,580 yen + tax)". I took the opportunity to add some non-alcoholic wine as well.
The main course of the day was yellowtail confit, served with fresh tomato aglio olio sauce, and local nabana frites. It may look a little plain, but the taste is so impressive that you'll think, ``What is this?''! From the appetizers to the salad dressing, each item is carefully crafted, making each dish a happy meal. It's packed.
When I heard that the fish comes directly from the fishermen who unload it at Manazuru Port right in front of my doorstep, and the vegetables come directly from Takahashi Farm on the peninsula, I was convinced, ``There's no way it wouldn't be delicious.''
This is "Mackerel black shichimi pasta aglio olio (1,280 yen + tax)". Mackerel black shichimi is said to be one of the ``Atarashihimono'' that was developed by adding an arrangement to Manazuru's traditional drying technique, and it is a delicious dish that you have never tasted before. It's originally a dinner menu, but this time we made a reservation and had it specially made for us.
A variety of creative dishes full of originality filled with Manazuru's treasures... I thoroughly enjoyed it!
One bonus piece.
There is an aquarium with tropical fish swimming inside the store, so I thought it was an interior design...but then I realized that these tropical fish were also "landed" at Manazuru Port. Although the fish rode the ocean currents to Sagami Bay, they were unable to return to the southern sea and were rescued by fishermen.
《 honohono 》
[Business hours] Lunch 11:30-14:30 (LO) / Dinner 17:30-20:30 (LO)
[Closed] Tuesdays and Wednesdays
[Address] 1027 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-20-8556
*The official website can be viewed here .
I heard that there was a dried fish store nearby that developed the "Atarashihimono" that I received at honohono , so I went to visit it. Uoden was founded in 1877.
At the storefront, fish arriving from Manazuru Port are busily processed and dried fish are in the middle of production. When I was looking for dried fish to take as a souvenir, I noticed a sign in front of the store that said ``Squid Bomb.'' When I asked the staff at the store, they said, ``We'll fry it right away, so please wait for about 5 minutes.'' Yes, of course I will wait!
This is the "squid bomb".
To put it simply, it is a croquette that is made by putting cheese inside potatoes, squid, and caramelized onions, and deep-frying it in bread crumbs containing squid ink. It looks quite impressive, but I discovered a new taste! It's the perfect size for a snack, but it also looks like it would go well with wine, so I bought it in bulk and took it as a souvenir.
《Fish Story》
[Address] 671 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-0467
*The official website can be viewed here .
What you should not forget about Manazuru is Arai Castle Ruins Park . The site was built on the site of Arai Sanetsugu's castle in the 11th century, and is located halfway up the mountain, so just walking around the park is a good workout.
The normally quiet park becomes lively during the cherry blossom season in late March. The weeping cherry blossoms in the park bloom all at once, making for a spectacular sight.
《Arai Castle Ruins Park》
[Address] 1789 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
There is another restaurant on the Manazuru Peninsula that you should definitely visit. Minato Shokudo is located at the back of Fukuura fishing port on the west side of the peninsula.
What's special about this place is not only the freshness and taste of the fish, but also the volume. Starting with the ``sashimi set meal'' where you can enjoy 4 to 6 types of fish, the simmered fish, grilled fish, fried fish, and more are all impressive. There are over 20 menu items, so if you can't decide, we recommend the Minato Set Meal (2,100 yen + tax), which allows you to enjoy a variety of options.
《Minato Shokudo》
[Business hours] 11:00-15:00 (LO 14:30)
[Closed] Wednesday
[Address] 109-2 Fukuura, Yugawara-cho
[TEL] 0465-20-7005
*The official website can be viewed here .
When you get back to the station, don't forget to buy some souvenirs at the Western confectionery shop Takayanai .
The target is “horse mackerel sable”!
You can purchase it at Cape Manazuru, etc., but if you go to the manufacturer's store, you can purchase it starting from just one piece, so you can get both as a souvenir and as a treat. (130 yen per ticket, tax included)
It's not a "horse mackerel sable" just because it's shaped like a horse mackerel. Surprisingly, sun-dried horse mackerel powder is kneaded into the dough!
Of course, even though it contains powdered horse mackerel, there is no fishy smell at all, so don't worry. The mismatch between the dried fish designed package and the crispy and delicious sable is unique, and is sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
《Takayanai》
[Business hours] 9:30-19:00
[Regular holiday] Tuesdays (the next day if it is a holiday)
[Address] 1812 Manazuru, Manazuru-cho
[TEL] 0465-68-0304
Photography cooperation: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Vehicle used: Nissan Leaf e+
