When François Verny and other French engineers founded Yokosuka Iron Works in 1871, it became Japan’s first Western-style shipyard with dry docks.

Later, Iron Works would become an Imperial naval shipyard and eventually what is now called Yokosuka Naval Base. These events were the beginning of Yokosuka’s story as a historical naval port city.

With the nation’s first Western-style lighthouse, a modern water supply from the Hashirimizu Reservoir and a French language school, it is no surprise the city development had a French twist.

The Imperial naval shipyard built numerous historical ships in its time, such as the battleship Mutsu (39,000 tons, 738-feet long, built in 1920) and the aircraft carrier Shinano (69,000-tons, 872-feet long, built in 1944). After World War II, the naval facility became home to U.S. Seventh Fleet vessels.

Visiting the historical dry docks on the U.S. naval base, which are still in active use, will give you a glimpse of the glorious naval history of Japan.

Besides the historical naval assets, Yokosuka is a city known for its numerous attractive parks with great views of the ocean and mountains.   

One of the most notable is Mikasa Park, located next to the base, where you can literally walk into Japan’s naval history. The 119-year-old Mikasa battleship, one of the world’s most notable memorial ships, is permanently preserved in concrete, right on the water, at the park. From here, you can spot “Sarushima,” Japanese for Monkey Island, the largest uninhabited island in Tokyo Bay.

Kannonzaki Park is located on a cape at the east end of Miura Peninsula and is blessed with various attractions including a lighthouse, museum and shrine. It offers picturesque views of a beautiful blue ocean and green mountains.

Nearby, the Yokosuka Museum of Art is known for some of its superb views and unique architecture featuring neo-futuristic style made up of glass panels, white walls, bridges and small round windows. While walking around the museum, you may feel as if you are in a spacecraft rather than a museum. It houses about 5,000 works of art, and its regular exhibitions focus on Yokosuka and Miura Peninsula paintings by Japanese artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Near the museum, there is another must-see attraction, Hashirimizu Shrine, which is dedicated to Princess Ototachibana and Prince Yamatotakeru. According to the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest history book, the princess’ life came to a tragic end in 370 AD when she and her husband tried to cross the Tokyo Gulf toward Chiba in their ship. The sea was rough, and danger was imminent, so the princess, in an attempt to calm the wrath of the sea gods, sacrificed herself by jumping into the water. The storm subsided enough for the prince to cross safely, the book said.

Climb a long set of stairs at the foot of a mountain to the traditional and somewhat mysterious shrine erected in the princess’ honor.

SOLEIL HILL A MUST-SEE EUROPEAN-STYLE PARK

Originally used as a housing and radio facility by the U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Forces, Soleil Hill near Arasaki Coast, only became a city park in 2005.

This 52-acre park is host to a restaurant and spa facilities. There is also a BBQ area where visitors can rent a grill set and supplies, perfect for a relaxing lunch.

Farmhouses, windmills and storage buildings modeled after houses in South France, are scattered throughout the park.

A stroll in the park is free, but the other attractions will cost you a fee.

CAFÉ IN CABBAGE FIELD OFFERS TASTY LOCAL FARE

Located near Arasaki and Soleil Hill, Kyabetsu Batake (literally, cabbage field), is a tiny café offering tasty food, coffee and sweets.

As the name indicates, the café is situated in a tiny town surrounded by a large cabbage field.

Upon entering the wooden door, my wife and I were welcomed by a courteous staff. A nearby corner bar and adjacent shelves were stocked with various coffee makers, strainers, along with colorful coffee cups and saucers. It all added to a stylish interior of muted colors accentuated by a various craft and pictures on the walls.

The café offers various lunch sets for 1,250 - 1,500 yen ($8 - $9) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Besides the fixed lunch sets, you can make your own lunch set by combining one from the rice dishes (such as dried curry, pilaf and taco rice) and one from the main dishes (such as fried chicken, fried shrimp and spring rolls) with salad, coffee or a soft drink for 1,250 yen.

My wife made her set with pilaf, fried chicken, salad and iced coffee.

I ordered a special “sashimi” lunch set for 1,500 yen. This set, with limited availability, was made up of yellowtail, squid and horse mackerel, along with miso soup, salad and complimentary coffee.

Although raw fish with coffee sounds strange, I found the pairing to be very delicious. The silver-looking squid and fatty yellowtail were very tasty and rounded out the meal nicely.  

According to the staffer, they visit a local port to buy fresh fish when premium, in-season fish arrive. So, if you are lucky, you can sample a special high-grade lunch featuring local fish for a reasonable price.

We were also served complimentary peanuts that are locally produced. The cold-brewed coffee had a mild and smooth texture and made it impossible to not have a slice of one of their homemade cakes to go along with it.

BREATHTAKING VIEWS OFFERED AT PARKS

Both Tateishi and Arasaki parks, located on western coast of the city, are well-known tourist attractions for their picturesque landscape.

Tateishi is a 40-foot tall rock with beautiful pine trees off of Akiya Beach. The vista of the gray rock, green pine trees and white shore against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, is breathtaking and has been repeatedly depicted in traditional Ukiyo-e art. When the tide is low, you can walk up to the rock. If you’re looking for a nice sunset view, this park is a good pick for a late afternoon stroll.

Arasaki offers a seaside path along a mile-long coast featuring unique black rocks and white mudstones. There are also plenty of caves and small islands to explore. Just like Tateishi, this park faces the west and offers a beautiful view of the sun setting over the Sagami Gulf, Mount Fuji and Izu Peninsula.

THINGS TO KNOW

Yokosuka City

• Population: 370,569 (2024)

• Location: 11 Ogawacho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (City Hall)

• Attractions: Mikasa Park, Monkey Island, Kannonzaki Park, Verny Park, Hashirimizu Shrine, Tateishi, Arasaki and Soleil Hill

• Website

• View Video!

Kannonzaki Park

• Address: 4-1262 Kamoi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (15-min. drive from Yokosuka Naval Base)

• Tel: 046-843-8316

Mikasa Park (Memorial ship Mikasa)

• Hours: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Fee: 600 yen ($4); seniors, 500 yen; high school students, 300 yen; junior high students and younger, free.

• Address: 82-19 Inaoka-cho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (7-min. walk from Yokosuka Chuo Station on the Keikyu Line).

• Tel: 046-822-5225

• Website

• View Video!

Hashirimizu Shrine

• Address: 2-12-5 Hashirimizu, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref.

• Tel: 046-841-0179

Sarushima

• View Video!

Soleil Hill

• Address: 4 Nagai, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (40-min. from Yokosuka Naval Base)

• Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Admission: Free

• Tel: 046-857-2500

• Website

• VIew Video!

Kyabetsu Batake

• Address: 207-5 Irie, Hasseicho, Miura City, Kanagawa Pref.

• Hours: Tues. - Sun., 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.              

• Tel: 046-888-7654

• Website

Arasaki Park

• Address: 6-5320-3 Nagai, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (40-min. drive from Yokosuka Naval Base)

• Tel: 046-857-2500

• Website

Tateishi Park

• Address: 3-5 Akiya, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref. (40-min. drive from Yokosuka Naval Base)

• Tel: 046-822-8333

• Website

Yokosuka Naval Base

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