Manazuru
Manazuru (真鶴) is a coastal resort in Kanagawa prefecture, on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula southwest of Tokyo, Japan, near Hakone, Odawara, Atami and Yugawara.
Understand
Manazuru is a production center of high-quality stone which is long ago Komatsu Ishi. The name of the town was named because the shape on the map is similar to crane. Quarries are abundant in the mountain north of the city area. Hills along the northern coast are cultivated Mikan. The northwestern part of the town is a part of the mountainous region that continues to the outer ring of Hakone volcano.
The majority of the town area is a mountainous area and the flat area is poor, but the mountain foot of Hakone volcano is used as a mikan garden. It is said that the view from the slope where Hakone is to the north and Sagami Bay to the south is closely resembles the Mediterranean coast of France, Italy, and it is called Japanese Riviera. The Kataura area of the adjacent Odawara is also called "Oriental Riviera".
- 🌍 Manazurucho Sight Seeing Information Center, Manatsuru 894-1, ☏ +81 465-68-2543. Tourist information available.
Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.
Get in
By plane
You can reach Manazuru Station from one of Tokyo's two airports. From Narita Airport, take the Narita Express train to Shinagawa, then transfer to either a Shinkansen Kodama train or a Tokaido Line local train. It is 2 hours via shinkansen connection and 3 hours via local connection.
From Haneda Airport, take a Keihin Kyuko line train to Shinagawa for connection to the Shinkansen and change at Yokohama for the local JR Tokaido line. Alternatively you can take the Keikyu Line from Haneda to Yokohama via Keikyu-Kamata station and change at Yokohama for the local JR Tokaido line.
By train
The fastest and most expensive method of reaching Manazuru from Tokyo is to take a Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama (こだま) train from Tokyo to Odawara, then transfer to the local JR Tokaido line for the run to Atami, Numazu. The one-way fare starts from ¥3390 for unreserved seating, but with a Japan Rail Pass you need only to pay ¥240 for the local JR Tokaido line - easily done with a Suica or PASMO card. With a good connection, the trip takes one hour.
Be aware that the JR East Rail Pass does not provide access to the Tokaido Shinkansen and to make use of this pass you will need to ride the regular Tokaido Main Line to Manazuru. From Tokyo, a convenient choice that is valid with the JR East Pass is the Odoriko limited express train service. These trains have bigger windows and better seating than the regular commuter trains, and seat reservations can be made. There are at least 3-4 runs during the day in either direction.
See
- Iwa Beaches. Minamoto no Yoritomo sailed
- Dōsojin (道祖神). small stone statues along the road.
- Ryumonji temple (瀧門寺).
- The monument of Stonemason's ancestors
- 🌍 Manazuru Hantō Prefectural Natural Park.
- Kibune jinja Shrine.
- Kibune Festival which is designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset designated as a country and is considered one of Japan’s three major festivals.
- Nakagawa Kazumasa art Museum (中川一政美術館).
- Kuroda Nagamasa memorial tower (黒田長政供養の碑).
- Sainenji temple
- Shitodo-no-iwaya Hidden Cave.
- This historic site near Manazuru Port is associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo. After losing a battle with the Taira clan at Mt.Ishibasiyama in 1180, Minamoto no Yoritomo fled into the Hakone mountains, stayed in this cave, then escaped to south of present-day Chiba.
- Odaiba memorial tower
- Setomichi (背戸道). The back streets of Manazuru.
- Dōsojin
Do
Manazuru is a popular day or weekend trip from Tokyo for scuba diving, largely due to its proximity to the city. Visibility can be poor during certain times of year, but it peaks toward the end of the summer or early fall.
- 🌍 Matsumoto Farm (松本農園), Iwa 898, ☏ +81 465 68-0330, mikan-dog@nifty.com. Eat some mikan and let your dogs play on the dog run.
- 🌍 Satoumi Base (まなづる里海BASE 真鶴産業活性化センター), Manatsuru 894-1, ☏ +81 465-46-2974. Cycling rental, fishing rental, souvenirs.
Buy
Tombstones
The town is famous for its stone, so if you're after a particularly unique souvenir, you could purchase one while you're here. It's safe to assume that employees of these shops only speak Japanese.
- 🌍 Ashizawa Stone (芦澤石材), Iwa 770-1, ☏ +81 465 68-0826.
- 🌍 Takebayashi Stone (竹林石材), Manatsuru 407-1, ☏ +81 465 68-0722, m-takebayashi@paw.hi-ho.ne.jp.
- Kamegawa Stone (亀川石材), ☏ +81 465 68-2738, info@kamegawa.co.jp.
Eat
- 🌍 Soba Restaurant Yamamoto (そば処山本), Manatsuru 1902, ☏ +81 465-68-5507. 11:30-14:30. Soba. This place is listed in Bib Gourmand Restaurant in the Michelin Guide Shonan.
- 🌍 Aji-no-Ōnishi (味の大西 真鶴支店), Manatsuru 1370-3, ☏ +81 465-68-4043. 11:00-15:00. Serves Odawara-style ramen.
- 🌍 Okage Cafe (おかげCafe), Manatsuru 865 (In the Okage So hotel.), ☏ +81 465-68-5110, fax: +81 465-68-5055. 10:00-16:00. A nice café.
- Sakanaza (魚座). fish market restaurant.
- Aji-no-Ōnishi
- Okage-Cafe
Drink
- 🌍 Fuji Shokudō (富士食堂), Manatsuru 400-1, ☏ +81 465-68-1063. 17:00-23:00. Serves sake, sashimi, and yakitori.
Sleep
Budget
- 🌍 Sazanami (さざ波), Iwa 491, ☏ +81 465 68-6050. Sashimi boat.
Mid-range
- 🌍 Hillside House (ひるさいどはうす), Iwa 873-24, ☏ +81 465-68-5348, inn@hillsidehouse.jp. Herbs & vegetables cooking.
Splurge
- 🌍 Hotel Venus (南欧貴賓館ベニュス), Iwa 874-190, ☏ +81 465-27-1188.
Connect
Some city buildings have free WiFi.