horschmology, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

猿島 is the largest uninhabited island in Tokyo Bay that still carries natural forest, and it is reached by a ten-minute boat ride from Mikasa Pier in Yokosuka. Jomon and Yayoi stone tools and pottery have been found here; at the end of the Edo period the island was fortified as a battery guarding Edo Bay, and in the Meiji era it was rebuilt as a Western-style artillery fort. Those brick and stone works survive, which is why the island is designated a National Historic Site and forms part of a Japan Heritage grouping. NOTE BEFORE YOU PLAN A SWIM: the city closed the island bathing beach indefinitely in July 2026 after currents reshaped the sand and created sudden drop-offs, and swimming is in any case prohibited under the park rules. Barbecue operates as usual, but you may not bring your own fuel, stove or charcoal onto the island, and tents, drones and overnight stays are also prohibited.

Best season

Spring · Summer · Autumn

Crowd level

Moderate

Admission

Admission (non-resident adult 15+) ¥500, non-resident primary/junior-high ¥250; Yokosuka residents ¥250 and school-age free from 1 Apr 2026. The RETURN FERRY is separate and varies by sailing date: non-resident adult ¥1,600–2,000, primary ¥800–1,000.

Nearest station

Yokosuka-chuo Station (Keikyu) · 15 min walk to Mikasa Pier

Website

sarushima.jp

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