This article was originally published in Japanese on October 27, 2020, and has been translated into English.
To test the performance of my new iPhone 12 Pro, which launched on October 23, 2020, I went to Sarushima the day after it arrived. While I took some photos, I mainly focused on video. With the wide-angle camera and LiDAR sensor’s improved low-light capabilities, I was excited to see how the iPhone 12 Pro would perform.
To Mikasa Terminal
To reach Sarushima, I headed to Mikasa Terminal. I took the Keikyu line to Yokosuka-Chuo Station, and from there, a short walk led me to the terminal. The route is straightforward.
Mikasa Terminal is right next to Mikasa Park, where the battleship Mikasa is displayed. I bought my ticket and boarded the ferry.
The ticket includes a 1,400-yen round-trip ferry fee by the operating company and a 200-yen park entry fee by the Yokosuka City Environmental Policy Division. Normally, staff tear off the entry portion upon boarding, but due to COVID-19, we had to tear it ourselves and drop it in a designated box.
The terminal’s waiting area offers light snacks. Since I hadn’t had breakfast, I tried “miso kara,” skewered pieces of fried chicken marinated in special miso sauce for two days. Five pieces in a cup cost 500 yen, while three pieces on a skewer cost 300 yen. I also received a sample of “Sarumen,” noodles with seaweed from Sarushima.
The boarding line was unexpectedly long, likely due to it being a Saturday. The ferry was large and clean, with plenty of seating, though most people stood on the deck to enjoy the ocean view.
Landing on Sarushima
The ferry reached Sarushima in about 10 minutes, a short ride.
After disembarking, I checked the map. The island is small enough to walk around, but many areas are off-limits. The observation deck and Nichiren Cave are closed to visitors, and several areas were blocked due to Typhoon Hagibis in 2019. People come here not only for sightseeing but also for fishing and BBQs.
The brick structures include barracks and ammunition storage, with tunnels housing command posts and more storage rooms. According to the brochure, these tunnels are known as the “Tunnel of Love.” The bricks were laid in a technique known as “French bonding,” and according to an information panel, only four structures with this style remain: Tomioka Silk Mill, a warehouse at the US Navy Yokosuka Base, Sarushima Fortress, and Kosuge Dock at Nagasaki Shipyard.
Several exposed gun battery remains line the tunnel exits.
The plaza offers views stretching from Yokohama to the Boso Peninsula, and I could even see the Landmark Tower and Skytree in the distance.
It might be for maintenance, but with brooms and dustpans left around, the place suddenly felt more lived-in. I’ve seen people online compare Sarushima to Laputa, but I didn’t quite get that feeling myself.
There’s a food stand called “Ocean’s Kitchen,” but since it didn’t open until 11 am, I decided against waiting nearly an hour and skipped eating on the island.
I took the first ferry at 9:30 am, and while it was somewhat busy, it didn’t feel too crowded. However, by the time I returned, the 10:30 am ferry was packed with people. Sarushima is clearly a popular tourist spot.
