Cape Manazuru: A Unique Adventure in Japan

I had the amazing opportunity to stay in Odawara, Japan for one month, and during that timeframe I got an incredible feel for Kanagawa prefecture, and it’s surrounding areas. One of my most memorable adventures from that timeframe was the gorgeous Cape Manazuru. Only a short train ride into Shizuoka prefecture.

The aforementioned cape

What is this place?

Cape Manazaru is a rocky jetty that juts into the sea from the beach. At low tide it can be traversed, however it is a somewhat dangerous hike to get to the end of it. It’s littered with tide pools full of fish and mollusks, and to traverse it you have to hop from one uneven, occasionally jagged rock to the next. I wouldn’t endorse doing the hike to the small shrine at the end of the cape unless you are confident in your physical endurance, but it was worth it to see up close. It should only be done at your own discretion.

At the end of the path to beach.

How to get there?

Cape Manazaru, like many wonderful sites in Japan, is fairly accessible, but a bit out of the way. You will likely not encounter any other foreigners there, just the occasional local.

From Odawara Station:

Take the JR Tokaido Main Line (Tokyo-Atami)
Currently this is on platform three, ride this for three stops until you reach Manazuru Station.

From Manazuru station, walk outside the station to the bus stop, and look for the bus labeled “Izuhakone Bus [MA 13]” Keep in mind this bus ends service in the early afternoon. The current timetable will be posted at the bus stop.

From there ride twelve stops to reach Cape Manazaru. The bus travels on a loop, so it is recommended to look at the timetable at the cape Manazaru bus stop to determine when you will want to be back for your return trip to Manazaru Station. Most if not all buses in Japan are compatible with your IC card (ie. Suica, Passmo, etc)

The JR Pass is usable on all the trains headed to Manazaru from Odawara on the JR lines, but not with the bus.

If you happen to miss the bus, it is about a ninety minute walk between the cape and the train station. The terrain is fairly rugged and there are many changes in elevation. I know this from experience because I missed the last bus back.

Manatsuru

Manatsuru is the town that encompasses a vast majority of the cape. It is low-key and peaceful, with many delightful local and fresh seafood restaurants. Keep in mind that many people live in the town, and there aren’t often foreign tourists that visit, so English is very minimal. The experience that I had with the townsfolk was lovely. Very kind and welcoming, and if you can bust out some Japanese, and make a genuine effort to communicate, you will be welcomed warmly.

Small shrine, tucked away on the mountains, observed walking back to the train station.

Another peaceful small shrine.

My Experience

This was my first time getting on a local bus in Japan, and like many things that are unfamiliar to me, I had a lot of anxiety, but it ended up being unfounded. The process was smooth and straightforward, and if you are really lost then a local or station attendant is often more than happy to point you in the right direction.

After getting off the bus, there is a visitor center with a small cafe, but it was closed when I got there. The path down to the cape is well marked, and there are several more small cafes on the path down to the beach.

The beach itself is beautiful. As you look on to the rocky cape you will notice a small shrine with Torri gate on top of the large rocks jutting out from the end of the cape itself, with ropes, or Shimenawa, connecting them together.

As I made the arduous hike to the end of the cape, I noticed that the tide had started gradually coming in, so I resigned myself to the fact that my shoes and pants were going to get soaked, and continued on. The tide pools had many small fish, urchins, and other small sea life that you should be aware of if you make the trek.

The view from end of the cape.

Conclusion

Japan is covered in natural wonder, and this place was no exception. It’s not incredibly popular, nor is it that difficult to get to, but to me this one was special. The salty air, the calming breeze, the ethereal site of the cape. This was an amazing experience. I won’t personally endorse making the trek to the end, as I don’t want anyone getting hurt based off my advice, so please stay safe, and enjoy this wonderful part of the world!

Bonus Haiku

The Waves May Crash Here
This Proud, Towering Pillar
The Ocean Will Call