Manazuru Peninsula: Fresh Seafood and Cape Panoramas

Jutting slightly into Sagami Bay, the Manazuru Peninsula is a nature-rich cape cherished as the home of fish and mandarins. Its pride is a deep green peninsula covered in untouched evergreen broadleaf forest and the fresh seafood landed at its fishing port. With the scenery of strange rocks at the peninsula tip, tide-pool play, and seafood cuisine, it is a relaxed sightseeing spot packed with the appeal of Sagami Bay.

Highlights

The Manazuru Peninsula is a peninsula jutting into Sagami Bay in Manazuru Town in southwestern Kanagawa. With a terrain that narrows toward its tip, it is known as the home of fish and mandarins. The whole peninsula is wrapped in rich nature, and its quiet atmosphere, not overly developed for tourism, is part of its charm. It is a peaceful seaside town where fishing and mandarin growing thrive.

At the peninsula tip is Mitsuishi (the Mitsuishi coast), where three rocks (Kasashima) line up toward the sea. At low tide you can walk close to the rocks, a scenic spot where tide-pool play can be enjoyed. It is also famous as a place to see the sunrise. The evergreen broadleaf forest covering the peninsula is called uotsukirin, a fish-breeding forest, and has been carefully protected because a rich forest nurtures a rich sea. Walking paths through primeval forest of camphor and chinquapin are popular, and the peninsula is designated a natural park.

Manazuru is a town proud of the fresh seafood caught in Sagami Bay. Local fish are landed at Manazuru Port, and eateries around the fishing port serve seafood bowls, sashimi, and simmered fish made with freshly caught fish. Some inns and eateries offer shore delicacies such as spiny lobster, turban shell, and abalone. Local fish cuisine, where freshness is everything, is a pleasure unique to Manazuru, enjoyed while gazing at the sea.

Seasonal Highlights

Tide-pool play and rock observation at Mitsuishi are centered on summer. Mandarin picking is in season from autumn to winter. The mild seasons of spring and autumn are ideal for strolling the evergreen forest of the peninsula. The Mitsuishi coast is known as a sunrise spot, and many people aim for the morning sun beyond the rocks at dawn. Seafood can be enjoyed year round, but as target catches have their seasons, asking about the recommendation of the day at an eatery is the surest bet.

Access and Essentials

• Access: Manazuru Station on the JR Tokaido Line is the base. From the station, take a town or local bus toward the cape and Mitsuishi
• From the Tokyo direction, take the JR Tokaido Line to Manazuru Station; it is also close to Hakone, Yugawara, and Atami
• Reach the Mitsuishi coast by a promenade from around Cape Manazuru (the tip area of the peninsula); parking is available
• The rocks are slippery, so checking the low-tide time in advance is reassuring

Practical Travel Notes

Recommended is midday timed to low tide for visiting Mitsuishi, or the early morning for the sunrise. Time required is half a day for Mitsuishi and a meal, or a full day adding a walk through the evergreen forest. The budget centers on meals such as seafood bowls, from the low to several thousand yen. Nearby are many real spots such as Manazuru Port, Kibune Shrine, and, close by car, Yugawara Onsen, making it easy to tour together with the Hakone and Atami areas. As some sections have limited bus service, check the timetable.

A Word of Advice

If going down to the rocks at Mitsuishi, wear non-slip shoes and aim for the low-tide hours. The peninsula is not overly developed for tourism, and being able to quietly enjoy nature and seafood is its charm. Popular seafood eateries fill up at midday on holidays, so shifting your timing or reserving is reassuring. It is a perfect place for a leisurely trip away from the bustle of the city.

📚 Sources

This information is based on public materials from local governments such as Manazuru Town and tourism associations, on public information from restaurants and the fisheries cooperative, and on on-site guidance. Offerings and business hours vary by shop. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please check official information before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About one to two hours for a meal and a stroll around the port
• What to bring: Some small cash, as some shops are cash-only; a jacket, as it is breezy by the sea
• Suggested route: Enjoy the seafood mentioned in the article at restaurants around the port, together with Manazuru's seaside scenery
• Access: From JR Manazuru Station toward the port by bus or car
• Budget: From around a thousand yen per meal is a guide