Yokosuka: Boat Trip to an Uninhabited Island

Sarushima is a rare Tokyo Bay outing: a short ferry ride takes you from Yokosuka’s naval waterfront to an uninhabited island with brick tunnels, old barracks, and military magazines hidden in the woods. You also get a sandy beach, bay views, and time to walk without the noise of central Tokyo.

I like the mix of nature and military history, and I like the small group limit of six. Guides such as Lucy and Kiyoko are praised for clear English, local knowledge, and warm company. The main drawback is that the $70 price does not include lunch, ferry-related costs, the Mikasa admission, or your transport to Yokosuka.

Key points

• Sarushima is Tokyo Bay’s only natural island, reached by a roughly 10-minute ferry.
• The island walk combines forest and military remains, including a brick tunnel, barracks, and power magazines.
• Lunch is flexible at Yokosuka Port Market, where you choose and pay for your own food.
• The Memorial Ship Mikasa adds naval history through its decks and exhibition rooms.
• Small groups of up to six allow room for questions and a more personal walking pace.
• Weather matters, since ferry and cruise services can be canceled or changed.

Why Sarushima Makes a Good Break From Tokyo

Yokosuka gives you a different side of the Tokyo area. Instead of another shrine, shopping street, or crowded central district, this half-day experience focuses on the sea, military history, and a small island reached by boat.

The ferry ride is brief, about 10 minutes, but it changes the feel of the day. You leave the port behind and arrive at Sarushima, where forest paths lead past structures built for Japan’s former military use. The island is not simply a beach stop. Its tunnels, barracks, and power magazines give the walk a clear purpose.

I especially like the contrast. One moment you are looking across Tokyo Bay; the next, you are walking through a brick passage or hearing about the island’s military role. The setting makes the history easier to picture than a display case in a city museum.

The experience lasts 330 minutes, or five and a half hours. That is long enough for a proper island walk, lunch, and a visit to the Mikasa without turning the day into a rushed checklist.

Meeting at Yokosuka-chūō Station

You meet at 9:40 a.m. outside the east exit of Yokosuka-chūō Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line. From there, the group walks for about 20 minutes toward the visitor center and waterfront.

That first walk is useful. It gives you time to get oriented and reach the ferry area with your guide rather than trying to find Sarushima on your own. It also means the experience begins on foot, so wear shoes that can handle several hours of walking.

The visitor center stop lasts about 30 minutes. The supplied details do not specify its exact displays, but it is part of the introduction before the ferry. Use this time to ask your guide about the island, Yokosuka’s naval role, and the day’s timing.

The group is limited to six people. That size matters here because the tour includes paths, historic structures, and questions along the way. A guide can explain a tunnel or point out a detail without trying to address a large crowd.

Crossing Tokyo Bay to Sarushima

The ferry crossing takes roughly 10 minutes. It is short, but it gives you a view of the water and the waterfront from a different angle. One guide can also help explain the naval activity around Yokosuka Bay, an aspect that several participants valued.

The crossing is weather-dependent. Ferry and cruise services can be affected by conditions, and the guide contacts you the day before if weather creates a problem. If boat rides make you uncomfortable, take the warning seriously. The experience is not suitable for people prone to seasickness.

The ferry is also one reason this outing feels different from a normal Yokosuka walking tour. You are not merely visiting a museum about the bay. You are crossing it, arriving at an island, and then returning to the city for more naval history.

Walking Sarushima’s Brick Tunnels and Forest Paths

You spend about two hours on Sarushima, including guided sightseeing, walking, and photo stops. The island’s main appeal is the way its military remains sit among trees rather than behind glass.

The route includes a brick tunnel, old barracks, and power magazines used by the former Japanese military. These structures provide the historical core of the visit. Your guide can connect the remains to the island’s past and help you notice details that are easy to miss when walking alone.

The tour also includes forest paths and views over Tokyo Bay. The walk is not described as a strenuous hike, but two hours on an island path still calls for comfortable shoes. The activity specifically recommends them, and you should follow that advice.

There is also a sandy beach where you can collect shells. This is a small detail, but it changes the pace of the morning. After the darker military sites, the beach gives you a lighter, more relaxed place to stop and look out over the water.

The island may appeal to two different people in the same group. If you enjoy nature, you get trees, open water, and a beach. If you prefer naval and military subjects, you get fortification remains and a guide who can explain their purpose.

A useful point from the feedback is that guide Lucy sometimes took participants to parts of Sarushima that they would not have found on their own. You should not expect a private route or guaranteed access to every area, but a local guide can make the island more than a simple ferry-and-beach trip.

Lunch at Yokosuka Port Market

After returning by ferry, you walk to Yokosuka Port Market, which is only about three minutes away. Lunch lasts approximately one hour, and you choose from a variety of menus.

This arrangement gives you control over both food and spending. The $70 tour price does not include lunch or drinks, so you can select what suits you rather than paying for a fixed meal. At the same time, you should budget for lunch separately.

Port Market is also a practical pause between the outdoor island walk and the ship visit. You can sit down, eat, and recover before continuing. The market’s location by the sea keeps the waterfront setting going, rather than sending you inland for a generic meal.

The information provided does not identify particular dishes or guarantee a specific menu. Go with an open mind and treat this as a flexible local food stop, not a formal tasting tour.

Some feedback also praised the guide’s ability to point out local food and places around Yokosuka. That is useful if you want more than the scheduled stops, though the formal plan gives you one hour for lunch and does not promise extra shopping time.

Touring the Memorial Ship Mikasa

After lunch, the group walks three minutes to the Memorial Ship Mikasa. You spend about 40 minutes here with guided sightseeing, a photo stop, and time to walk through the ship.

Mikasa is tied to the Russo-Japanese War, and the visit gives the day a second historical anchor. Sarushima shows defensive facilities on an island. Mikasa lets you examine a warship and consider the naval side of Yokosuka’s past.

The tour includes the upper and middle decks, followed by exhibition rooms. That sequence gives you both the physical experience of moving through the ship and a more formal presentation of the history.

Admission is extra. The listed price is ¥600 for adults, ¥500 for seniors, and free for children. You should include this in your day’s budget because it is not covered by the $70 tour charge.

The 40-minute visit is fairly focused. It is enough to see the main areas with a guide, but it may feel short if you want to read every exhibit carefully. If Mikasa is your main reason for visiting Yokosuka, a separate, longer visit may suit you better. If you want a balanced day split between island scenery and naval history, the timing works well.

The tour information also lists Naval Port Cruise tickets as an extra, at ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children. A naval cruise is not included in the stated route, so confirm with the provider how this ticket relates to your chosen outing before paying for it.

The Guide Can Shape the Day

The guide is the strongest personal part of this experience. The tour is offered in English or Japanese, and the feedback repeatedly highlights friendly, clear explanations and attention to questions.

Lucy is named in several comments. She is described as easy to talk with, well informed about Yokosuka and its military past, and prepared with books, information, and other aids. One participant also appreciated her discussion of current navy matters, while another enjoyed the relaxed feeling of spending the day with her.

Kiyoko is also named in the feedback, including one particularly warm account of local spots, food, and routes around Yokosuka Bay and Sarushima. The provider is Kyoko Kato, so confirm which guide is scheduled when you book if having a specific guide matters to you.

I would book this tour for the guide rather than just for transportation. Sarushima can be visited without a tour, but the value comes from understanding the structures, hearing the Yokosuka context, and getting help with the day’s movement between station, ferry, market, and ship.

The small-group setup helps. With no more than six participants, you can ask about a brick passage, a naval vessel in the distance, or the island’s military use without waiting for a large group to move along.

What the $70 Price Really Covers

At $70 per person, the tour provides a licensed local guide and a planned five-and-a-half-hour day. That is reasonable if you value explanation, company, and help with the route.

The price is not all-inclusive. Plan separately for:

• Lunch and drinks
• Memorial Ship Mikasa admission
• Any applicable Naval Port Cruise ticket
• Transportation to and from the meeting point
• Ferry-related costs if charged separately

The wording around ferry and cruise charges should be checked before booking, since the listed route includes ferry rides but the included section names only the licensed guide. The safest approach is to confirm the total extra cost in advance.

The value is strongest for someone who wants context. If you are happy navigating alone, buying food, and reading signs without a guide, the tour may cost more than a self-guided day. If you want a smooth route and a person who can explain Yokosuka’s military and naval past, the price is easier to justify.

Who Will Enjoy This Experience Most

This outing suits adults and older children who enjoy a mix of outdoor walking, military sites, boats, and local food. It is particularly good for couples or small groups with different interests. One person can focus on the island’s nature and beach, while another gets the naval history and ship visit.

It is not suitable for children under five, babies under one year, people prone to seasickness, or people over 80. The activity also includes several walks and time outdoors, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider for more detail before reserving.

Bring comfortable shoes. You may also want water and weather-appropriate clothing, though the only stated required item is suitable footwear.

The outing is less suitable if you want a long beach day, an extensive war museum visit, or a food-focused tour. Sarushima’s beach is one part of a two-hour island visit, and Mikasa receives about 40 minutes.

Practical Timing and Weather Advice

The meeting time is 9:40 a.m., and you return to Yokosuka-chūō Station after a final 20-minute walk from Mikasa. The route is planned, but boat services can change with the weather.

The guide contacts you the day before if conditions affect the ferry or cruise services. Keep your schedule flexible around this booking, especially if you have a train, flight, or another fixed activity later in the day.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging your Japan plans.

The tour has a five-star rating from 16 verified bookings, and the praise is remarkably consistent around the guides’ friendliness, explanations, and care with small details. The most useful takeaway is not simply that people enjoyed the day. It is that the guide appears to make the difference between seeing Sarushima and understanding it.

Should You Book the Sarushima and Mikasa Tour?

Book it if you want a compact Yokosuka experience that combines a ferry ride, an uninhabited island, military remains, local lunch, and a historic warship. The guide-led format is especially useful if you want clear English or Japanese explanations and prefer a small group.

Think twice if you dislike boats, need a fully accessible route, or want to spend much longer at the beach or Mikasa. Also check the extra charges carefully, since the $70 price excludes several day-of expenses.

For most visitors staying in Tokyo who want a change of pace, I see this as a worthwhile half-day extension. Sarushima supplies the unusual setting, Port Market supplies the flexible meal stop, and Mikasa gives the day a strong historical finish.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at 9:40 a.m. outside the east exit of Yokosuka-chūō Station on the Keihin Kyuko Line.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts 330 minutes, or five and a half hours.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and Japanese.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks at Yokosuka Port Market are paid for separately.

Is admission to the Memorial Ship Mikasa included?

No. Admission is listed separately at ¥600 for adults, ¥500 for seniors, and free for children.

How much does the Memorial Ship Mikasa cost for children?

Children enter the Memorial Ship Mikasa free of charge.

Can the ferry trip be canceled because of weather?

Yes. Ferry and cruise services are subject to weather conditions, and the guide contacts you the day before if conditions affect the service.

Who should not book this activity?

The activity is not suitable for children under five, babies under one year, people prone to seasickness, or people over 80.