Another Peninsula!!

Finding himself with a few days off over New Year, Steve was champing at the bit and rearing to go!!! Currently we have a full house, no beds to spare unless you like sleeping on the floor. Don't be put off though, because futons and tatami mats are very comfortable. Mandy and Dave, Simon and Charlotte are our most recent victims, our latest 'alien' visitors.

As we have visited the Izu Peninsula many times and the Miura Peninsula just recently,  it was time to shift our focus. We decided to visit the Boso Peninsula which is east of us, across Tokyo Bay. The peninsula can be reached by driving through Tokyo and heading north then east.  An earlier post, 'On the Road Again', covered a trip Steve and I made to Narita  and we knew that the toll fees were fairly high and the trip could be slow. For this trip we chose the alternative route, travelling to the peninsula via the Tokyo Bay Aqualine Tunnel.

OK 'Honey' baby, we know where we want to go.....it's up to you to get us there!

Leaving Yamashita-cho at about 9.15am, we successfully crossed over the Yokohama Bay Bridge in very good time, thank you 'Honey', and reached Kawasaki without any navigational errors or arguments. What a miracle!

The Tokyo Bay Aqualine Tunnel, also known as the Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway, is a 15.1km crossing through the middle of Tokyo Bay. It connects Kawasaki City, on our side of the bay, with Kisarazu City on the Boso Peninsula. Rather than a 100km trip, through congested traffic, it is a 15km trip which takes about 15 minutes. Undoubtedly it is well worth the toll fees of 3,000yen each way. At 9.5km, it is not the longest underwater tunnel in the world but the tunnel diameter is the largest. Two lanes of traffic can travel in each direction.

The photo below shows us approaching the entrance, then it's under water for the next 10 kilometres. The tunnel is apparently earthquake proof, a very important feature in an area with a reputation for very regular seismic activity.

Exiting the tunnel you then travel on the bridge for the rest of the way! At the exit point of the tunnel, which is actually on a man made island,  there is a viewing point but we zoomed past on this occasion!! Next time!!!

 At the Kasarazu Landing, we handed over our 3,000 yen to the friendly toll collector.

We decided to travel down the west coast of the peninsula and then make our way back up the east coast. In the end we ran out of daylight hours so, after reaching Shirahama and Nojimazaki, at the most southern point, we headed up the west coast to Kanogawa and then across the middle back to the Aqualine Tunnel.

As we made our way southwards we drove through fishing villages and farmland. Our first stop was Futtsu where we enjoyed a walk around the harbour observing fishermen returning from their day's work.

Our next stop was Hamakanaya, where there was a fish market appropriately named 'the Fish'. As we wandered around we sampled many of the seafood products, plus peanuts prepared in a multitude of ways. The octopus was nice but the raw squid was not high on my list!! We finished off sampling the special cakes that people seem to go crazy over.....very fine layers of cake rolled like a swiss roll!

Charlotte had a snack of marinated seaweed. Quite yummy for a few mouthfuls then slight queasiness set in!!

As we 'moseyed on' down the east coast we drove out onto each of the 'sticky-out bits' on the peninsula......a beautiful park with waterfalls and what looked like lots of gopher holes, making us think we had arrived on the set of 'Caddyshack'!

As I found myself trapped in a bamboo forest ........

 David was getting sweet with the bamboo.....

 ...and anyone who touched these trees quickly retracted their fingers. Prickly trunks indeed!

 Brazilwood tree

...highly valued for the red dye extracted from it

....timber used to make stringed instrument bows

Areas of the forest were terraced with ancient walls.

Yokohama, Tokyo and the Miura Peninsula could be seen across the bay.

We finally found somewhere to eat at Nojimazaki, on the most southern point. In actual fact, as we drove past this venue, two women ran onto the road gesticulating and encouraging us to choose their place. How could we resist, a quick scan around and we scurried upstairs to our place by the window on the floor. Ordering as usual was a challenge, with absolutely nothing written in English and only one person who could say a few English words.

We enjoyed tempura prawns and ramen and some very bitter green tea. Sitting on the floor, Japanese style, always causes some consternation but creates a conversation topic!!

 

We headed back up the east coast. The beaches and towns were beautiful. With the number of daylight hours dwindling, at Kanogawa we decided to head across the mountains back to the Aqua Line Crossing. What a beautiful journey this was.

We saw many places we knew we will have to return to...one place, Nadono, was absolutely gorgeous. In the fading light we could see it was surrounded by a lush rain forest, with an abundance of waterways and traditional housing. When the lights turn red next time, we will stop!

Thanks to the Aqua Line, we quickly returned to the other side of the bay and then enjoyed a relaxed trip back across Yokohama Bridge to home. What a miracle....no traffic jams or arguments with 'Honey'!
Total toll fees =9,100yen ($110-00)........Fuel 134yen($1.61)/litre

Another successful day out, but really only a quick reconnoiter of the peninsula. Having had this investigative tour we know there are many places we will need to go back to.....as well as Nadono....the reclining Buddha, castles, temples, gardens, falls and beautiful highlands. Definitely an excuse for another weekend away...and another ryokan experience.

Native to Japan the 

Japanese sago palm (cycad family)

.....all parts of this plant are toxic.....

in particular the seeds

Another plant to look at but not touch!!

AND SO BEGINS 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I-I O-TOSHI-O!!