# Sarushima

> A small uninhabited island off Yokosuka, described by the city as the only natural island in Tokyo Bay, with Meiji-era brick fort buildings and tunnels in the forest. The ferry from Mikasa Terminal takes about 10 minutes, and the round trip plus park admission costs an adult 2,100 to 2,500 yen depending on the day.

- Prefecture: Kanagawa
- Type: Island
- Address: Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
- Official site: https://sarushima.jp/

The boat from Mikasa Terminal takes about ten minutes, and after the short pier and a beach the path climbs straight into the forest. Sarushima is tiny, about 1.6 kilometers around, and the city describes it as the only natural island in Tokyo Bay. The first gun battery here was built in 1847 by the shogunate, and in 1881 the army started the brick fort whose remains you walk through today: barracks, gun positions and a long tunnel cut through the rock, the walls laid in Flemish bond, which survives in only a few places in Japan. The bricks vary in colour because the firing was uneven, and the moss and ferns in the cutting give the whole place a lost-ruin look. Allow about an hour to walk round slowly, or 90 minutes to two hours to see everything. Nobody lives on the island. There is no running water, the toilets use recycled rainwater, and you cannot stay overnight, so everyone leaves on the last boat. Pets, drones and bringing your own barbecue fuel are not allowed. Swimming is allowed only when the summer beach is officially open, and it has not opened in recent summers.

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to visit Sarushima?

For visitors from outside Yokosuka, the round-trip ferry costs an adult 1,600 to 2,000 yen depending on the date, plus 500 yen park admission, so 2,100 to 2,500 yen in total. Elementary school children pay 1,050 to 1,250 yen in total, and there is no senior discount.

### Can I book a specific boat?

No. Boarding is in the order of the queue at Mikasa Pier and you cannot reserve a sailing, though extra boats may run when it is busy. Buy tickets at Mikasa Terminal or online through Miura newcal, and arrive with time to spare.

### How long should I plan on the island, and is there food?

A slow loop takes about an hour, or 90 minutes to two hours if you want to see everything. Oceans Kitchen on the island serves food, and you can book a barbecue set, but no ingredients are sold there and there is no drinking water from taps.

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Source: Sarushima — Japan Voyage