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Despite its name, there are no monkeys on Japan’s Sarushima island – just a nice beach.

By on July 24, 2018

The only island in Tokyo Bay that does not have cliffs and beaches made of concrete, Monkey Island lies 1.7km off Yokosuka and makes a fantastic day out for children who have grown tired of the urban jungle and fancy a bit of the real thing.

Covering a mere 5 hectares, the island controls the shipping lanes at the entrance to the bay and its strategic importance was recognized as far back as the mid-1800s. Military facilities that were constructed during the Tokugawa Shogunate remain today, including brick-lined tunnels and magazines where ferns now grow out of the walls.

 

The island’s importance increased during World War II, and a series of connected artillery positions were sited on top of the cliffs at the northern tip of the island. All that remains now are the concrete bases embedded with rusting bolts, but the positions still command excellent views over the bay. Paths through stands of bamboo and heavy undergrowth take visitors the length of the island and up to the highest point–a mere 35 meters above the waves below where the paint on a three-storey lookout post is peeling. Signs dotted along the paths warn visitors not to touch anything that might resemble military ordinance and report it to the island office.

At the most northerly point, a metal stairway descends the cliff face to a rocky promontory that is a favorite among fishermen. Clambering over the outcrops reveals rock pools and legions of shellfish, but the surfaces can be slippery and the tide can rise quickly, making getting back to dry land sometimes hazardous. A cave part-way down the face has a small statue with the familiar red bib surrounded by piles of small pebbles.

Remains dating from the Jomon era have been excavated on the island, but if your children are anything like mine–aged 8 and 5–they will gladly swap the history lessons for the beach. At the southern end of the island, looking across the water to the city of Yokosuka and the US naval base, the beach is a sheltered spot for swimming in the summer and barbecues for a greater part of the year.

According to legend, it was to this beach that a famous priest was guided by a white monkey, giving the island its name. The sand may be more grey and grainy than South Pacific fine, but it works just as well for sand castles and it may be the island’s position in the currents feeding Tokyo Bay, but a lot of interesting flotsam seems to wash up on its shores. Dozens of different sea shells mark the high-tide line, along with pieces of wood rubbed smooth by the waves, the remains of small crabs, strands of seaweed and the occasional piece of colored sea glass.

Surprisingly, there is less trash on the beach than I had anticipated; equally, the waters surrounding the islands are a lot clearer than I was expecting. As the ferry approaches the pier, rocks and sand on the bottom are clearly visible beneath the hull. Fishermen reel in flatfish and fugu puffer fish while hawks circle overhead. Just behind the beach is a large wooden deck with tables and parasols, as well as taps where the worst of that sand can be washed off before leaving the island.

Fishing rods and barbecue sets can be rented for the day and a small shop sells ice cream and beer. Sarushima Beer, which was first brewed in 1995 and is a tasty 4 percent pale ale, may be a blatant effort to cash in on the name, but it’s an excellent way to end a day on the island.

GETTING THERE:

The nearest train station is Yokosuka Chuo Stn. on the Keihin Kyuko Line, and a 45-minute journey from Shinagawa Station. The Sarushima Ferry leaves from the dock beside Mikasa Park and takes 15 mins to get to the island. The round-trip fare is ¥1,300 for adults and ¥650 for children. Admission fee to the island is ¥200 per person (15 years old – adult)  ¥100 (junior high school aged students and below) . For more information on the ferry, check out the Tryangle Mikasa office on (046) 825-7144  https://www.tryangle-web.com/

The beach is open from 8:30 am until 5 pm. Reservation not required
Prior reservation is required for families who want to rent a barbecue set.

 

 

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