Jogashima Park

Jogashima Park sits at the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture, approximately 60 kilometers south of Tokyo. This coastal park occupies a rugged outcrop of land jutting into Sagami Bay, where dramatic cliffs meet the Pacific Ocean. The area takes its name from Jogashima Island, which was once separated from the mainland but became connected through natural land formation and human development over centuries.

The park's most significant landmark is the Jogashima Lighthouse, first constructed in 1870 during the Meiji era as one of Japan's earliest Western-style lighthouses. While the original French-designed structure was replaced in 1925, the lighthouse remains operational and has guided ships through these treacherous waters for over 150 years. The surrounding area developed into a public park to preserve the natural coastline and provide recreational space for visitors from the nearby Yokosuka and Yokohama metropolitan areas.

Visitors to Jogashima Park experience a striking contrast between volcanic rock formations and lush coastal vegetation. The park's walking trails traverse windswept cliffs offering panoramic views of Mount Fuji on clear days, while sheltered coves below attract tide pool explorers and anglers. The Umanose-Domon Cave, a natural sea arch carved by wave action, stands as the park's most photographed geological feature. During winter months, the park becomes a popular spot for observing migrating seabirds, while spring brings blooms of nanohana (rapeseed flowers) that blanket portions of the landscape in bright yellow.

Jogashima Park is accessible via the Keikyu Line from Tokyo or Yokohama. Visitors take the train to Misakiguchi Station, then transfer to a Keikyu Bus bound for Jogashima, with the journey taking approximately 15 minutes. The park itself has no admission fee and remains open year-round, though individual facilities like the lighthouse observation deck and aquarium charge separate entrance fees of around 300 yen per person.