Misaki Area in Miura Peninsula

Misaki Port is a fishing port located at the tip of the Miura Peninsula. Jogashima Island stands on the south side of the port, functioning as a natural breakwater. During the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) , the port flourished as a port of call for merchant ships and a place to wait out favorable winds, and in more recent years, it has become one of Japan's leading ports for tuna landings.

During the Muromachi Age (1336 - 1573) , Misaki Castle was built on a coastal terrace overlooking Misaki Port and served as a base for the navy.

From the ruins of Misaki Castle, you can look down on Misaki Port. You can also see the bridge leading to Jogashima Island, on the south side of Misaki Port.

After visiting the ruins of Misaki Castle, I took a stroll around Misaki. Honzui-ji Temple is located to the south of Misaki Elementary School built on the site of Misaki Castle's bailey.

The above photo shows the back gate of Honzui-ji Temple. Honzui-ji Temple was founded in 1394. In the Kamakura Age (1185 - 1333) , the "Sakura Gosho", which means Palace of cherry and was the Palace of MINAMOTO no Yoritomo (1147 - 1199) , was built on this site. MINAMOTO no Yoritomo was the first Shogunate in the Kamakura Age.

During the Kamakura Age, many cherry trees were planted at the palace, and banquets were held there with a distant view of the cherry blossoms of Jogashima Island.

When I visited in April, beautiful cherry blossoms were in bloom near the bell tower of Honzui-ji Temple. In addition to the "Sakura Gosho", MINAMOTO no Yoritomo is said to have had two other palaces in Misaki: the "Momo Gosho", the palace of peach, and the "Tsubaki Gosho", the palace of camellia.

To the west of Honzui-ji Temple. Konen-ji Temple is located. Konen-ji Temple was built by WADA Yoshimori (1147 - 1213) , a vassal of the MIURA clan in the early Kamakura Age.

The cherry blossoms in front of the main hall were in full bloom. In the temple area, the Bentendo hall, built by WADA Yoshimori, is located.

The below photo shows the townscape of Misaki as seen from Kounen-ji Temple.

Houses are densely packed together, and Jogashima Island, across the narrow strait, can be seen near by. I walked down the steep coastal terrace and through the village of Misaki.

The photo on the above left shows a storehouse with thick earth walls under repair. It appears to now be operating as an old-style inn. There were also several seafood restaurants in the village, as shown in the photo on the above right. Seafood is a specialty of the port town of Misaki.

After having lunch at a seafood restaurant, I crossed over to Jogashima. On the way back, I took the photo of Misaki Fishing Port from inside the bus.

Although it was a bit rushed, I was glad that I enjoyed my stroll around Misaki.

How to get there
From Shinagawa Station, take a Limited Express on the Keikyu (Keihin-Kyuko) Line to Misakiguchi. Take a bus from Misakiguchi Station to "Misaki-ko", Misaki Port.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Uraga Area
Fukujyuji Temple
Cape Tsurugisaki
Abratsubo
Jyogashima Island