If you want to spend a day exploring Yokosuka through its history, one of the best ways to do it is to start from the sea. From the deck of a boat, you can look out over the harbor, walk through Sarushima in Tokyo Bay, and finish at Memorial Ship MIKASA. Taken together, these places show that Yokosuka’s history is not confined to museum displays. It is still visible in the city’s waterfront scenery.

The Yokosuka Naval Port cruise, Sarushima, and Memorial Ship MIKASA make a classic three-stop route that is easy to put together even on your first visit. You see Yokosuka’s present-day harbor from the water, trace the remains of coastal fortifications on the island, and then stand before one of the city’s clearest historical symbols. It is a balanced way to experience Yokosuka in a single day without rushing.

If It’s Your First Time in Yokosuka, Start with These Three Spots

Yokosuka has a number of places where you can connect with the city’s history, but if this is your first visit, the waterfront route is a particularly good place to start. Beginning with the naval port cruise, then heading to Sarushima, and ending at MIKASA makes it easier to grasp the shape and character of the city.

Start with the Yokosuka Naval Port Cruise

A good place to start is the Yokosuka Naval Port cruise. This harbor cruise passes through Yokosuka Port and Nagaura Port, offering close-up views of vessels operated by the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. From the water, the scale and layout of the harbor come into focus in a way that is difficult to grasp from land.

Even if you have already seen the waterfront from shore, the view changes once you are out on the water. Distances feel different, the harbor opens up, and Yokosuka’s identity as a naval city becomes easier to understand before anyone even starts explaining it. It is also an easy stop to place early in the day, before you have done much walking.

For the latest departure times, fares, and same-day ticket information, please check the official website.

Official website (English) | Google Maps

Basic Information

Location: Shioiri Terminal (2nd floor of Coaska Bayside Stores)
Address: 2-1-12 Honcho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Access: About a 5-minute walk from Shioiri Station on the Keikyu Line; about a 15-minute walk from Yokosuka Station on the JR Yokosuka Line
Duration: About 45 minutes
Reservations: General reservations are accepted from six months in advance until the day before departure
Same-day tickets: Availability is decided after 9:00 a.m. on the day of departure

Notes: Service may be canceled or routes may change depending on weather, sea conditions, or port conditions. For the latest departure times, fares, and same-day ticket information, please check the official website.

Next, Head to Sarushima, an Uninhabited Island of Fortress Ruins and Sea Views

After the cruise, Sarushima is a natural next stop. This uninhabited island floats in Tokyo Bay and is reached by ferry from Mikasa Terminal. The atmosphere shifts as soon as you arrive. Even though it is so close to central Yokosuka, it feels removed from the city.

Sarushima stands out for the way sea views and traces of history sit side by side. As you walk past tunnels, brick structures, and old fortress remains, you get a different sense of Yokosuka from the one you see around the harbor. The views out to the water are also striking, making this one of the most photogenic stops in the city.

Sarushima is not only a place for historical walks. Visitors also come for barbecues and guided exploration tours, and some simply spend time by the shore. If you plan to walk the island at a relaxed pace, allow about 60 minutes. If you want time to explore more fully, 90 to 120 minutes is better. Comfortable shoes are a good idea.

For the latest ferry status, schedule, and fares, please check the official website.

Official website (English) | Google Maps

Basic Information

Boarding point: Mikasa Terminal
Address: 27-16 Ogawa-cho, Yokosuka
Access: About a 15-minute walk from Yokosuka-Chuo Station on the Keikyu Line
Ferry time: About 10 minutes each way
Tickets: Purchase on the day at Mikasa Terminal / Sarushima Visitor Center
Reservations: Advance reservations are not available for the Sarushima ferry

Notes: Summer schedule runs from March 1 to October 31, and winter schedule runs from November 1 to the end of February. Service may be canceled depending on weather conditions. For the latest ferry status, schedule, and fares, please check the official website.

Restrictions: Pets are not allowed except service dogs and guide dogs. Drones are prohibited. Swimming is prohibited. Barbecue stoves, fuel, charcoal, and similar items may not be brought onto the island.

Finish at MIKASA, a Symbol of Yokosuka’s History

A fitting final stop is Memorial Ship MIKASA, preserved in Mikasa Park. It is one of Yokosuka’s best-known historical landmarks and an essential place for understanding the city’s identity.

After seeing Yokosuka’s present-day harbor on the cruise and walking through the remnants of coastal defense on Sarushima, MIKASA brings those experiences together. It helps connect Yokosuka’s maritime setting with the modern history that shaped the city so strongly. It is easy to fit into your day and makes a strong final stop.

For the latest opening hours, closing dates, and event information, please check the official website.

Official website (English) | Google Maps

Basic Information

Location: 82-19 Inaricho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Access: About a 15-minute walk from Yokosuka-Chuo Station on the Keikyu Line
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. from April to September; 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in March and October; 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. from November to February
Last admission: 30 minutes before closing
Closed: December 28–31
Admission: Adults ¥600; seniors (65+) ¥500; high school students ¥300; elementary and junior high school students free; visitors with disabilities ¥200
Suggested visit time: About 30 to 60 minutes
Phone: 046-822-5225

Things to Know Before You Go

If You Want to Keep Walking to a Minimum

If you want to limit the amount of walking, it is easier to build your day around the naval port cruise and MIKASA. Sarushima is one of the most rewarding stops on the route, but it also requires time and energy for walking around the island. If you are not sure about your schedule or your stamina, it makes sense to save Sarushima for another day.

If Weather Is a Concern

Because this route centers on the waterfront, weather and sea conditions matter. The Yokosuka Naval Port cruise may be canceled depending on conditions, and ferries to Sarushima may also be suspended in strong winds. If you are planning your day around the sea, it is worth checking the latest operating information before you head out.

If You Enjoy Photography

Sarushima is especially well suited to visitors who enjoy photography. The island’s tunnels, brick structures, and wide-open coastal views create some of the most distinctive scenery in Yokosuka. It also works well for families, while MIKASA remains an easy stop to fit into a broader day of sightseeing.

For a Deeper Look, Head to Uraga or Kaizan Next Time

If you want to continue exploring Yokosuka’s history beyond this first route, Uraga Brick Dock and the Kaizan Underground Tunnels are worth considering on a future visit. Uraga Brick Dock is known as the only existing brick dry dock of its kind in Japan, while the Kaizan site preserves part of a large underground facility built in the final stage of the war.

After a Day of History, Try Yokosuka’s Local Food

After visiting the cruise, Sarushima, and MIKASA, it is easy to add some of Yokosuka’s signature food to your day. Local specialties such as the Yokosuka Navy Burger, Yokosuka Cherry Cheesecake, and Yokosuka Navy Curry all reflect different parts of the city’s history and culture. If you have extra time, local dishes made with regional ingredients are also worth looking for.

Yokosuka’s History Becomes Clearer When You Start from the Waterfront

Yokosuka’s appeal is not something you understand only by reading captions or historical explanations. It is there in the harbor seen from a boat, in the island reached by crossing the bay, and in the preserved warship that still stands in the city. These places make it easier to feel how Yokosuka’s history remains part of the landscape today.

If you want to explore Yokosuka through its history, start with the naval port cruise, Sarushima, and MIKASA. By the time you have come in from the sea, walked the island, and stood in front of MIKASA, the city may look a little different from when the day began.