ＩＤＣＳ英会話の「Pix & English」: Jogashima Island

今日のテーマは、神奈川県・三浦半島の「城ヶ島灯台」。

英語の興味がある方なら、何卒ＩＤＣＳ英会話のホームページの御覧ください。

Check out the beautiful views of Tokyo Bay and Sagami Bay from the shores of Jogashima Island at the tip of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Located only about 76 km south of Tokyo, visitors can easily access the island by train, bus, taxi, and private vehicle.

On a clear day, photographers and tourists can enjoy a clear views of Mt. Fuji to the east, Oshima Island to the south, and Chiba Prefecture to the east.

Access by Car:

There are several large parking lots located on the island making this destination easily accessible by car. Parking lots are reasonably priced as well. If you have a large dog or small children, I’d recommend driving to this location. If you take a combination of the Shuto Expressway and the Yokohama-Yokosuka Expressway, you can easily reach the island in less than two hours depending on traffic.

Access by Public Transportation:

By Train: Take the Keikyu Main Line to Misakiguchi Station. Take the “三９” bus to the “Jogashima Bus Stop,” which is the last stop.

Maps for walking trails can be found here:

Japanese (more detailed information with photos):

https://www.shizensyokuhin.jp/archives/articles/127#outline2

English (basic details with a simple map):

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/japan/kanagawa/jogashima-island-loop

On this photo shoot, I arrived at one of the large parking lots on the island and waiting for the sunrise. Overall, I spent about 6 hours on this photo shoot. Parking only cost ¥450.

References:

城ヶ島 | Jogashima

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/23DLTXfngttxYW266

Address: Jogashima Misakimachi, Miura, Kanagawa 238-0237

城ヶ島灯台 | Jogashima Lighthouse

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/m8razbRwQPbMCq3WA

Jogashima Lighthouse (Kanagawa Prefectural Government):

Source: https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp/destination/jogashima-lighthouse/37

The lighthouse was designed by a French engineer, Francois Leonce Verny and completed in 1870. The lighthouse collapsed in the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), so it was reconstructed in 1926. The height of lighthouse is 11.5 m and it stands on a cliff top, which is 30 m above sea level.

みはらし広場 | Miharashi Lookout Point

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/8rLPzv3yXu6iqFTa7

Monument Calls for Lovers with Spectacular View of Jogashima (Miura Town News Co., Ltd.)
The monument was established in September 2016 to provide a park with benches to attract young lovers to the island to enjoy the romantic views from the look-out point. From the spot, one can see Boso Peninsula and Izu Oshima Island on a clear day.

馬の背洞門 | Uma-no-se (Horseback) Cave

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/5H6dGv2aTaCES6ae7

“馬の背洞門” (Umanose Cave/Arch) by Nippon Travel Magazine

Source: https://tabi-mag.jp/kn0131/

馬の背洞門（赤羽根崎）(Umanose Cave/Arch (Akabanezaki)) by Miura Hanto Biyori

Source: https://miurahantou.jp/umanose-domon/

150 Years of Service | Past and Present of Japanese Aids to Navigation

Japan Coast Guard Maritime Traffic Department

Source: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/soshiki/koutsuu/kikaku/kourohyousikipanfu_e.pdf

旧安房埼灯台跡 (Kyū awasakitōdai ato) | Awasaki Lighthouse

Source: https://www.townnews.co.jp/0502/2019/04/19/478544.html

ニ代目安房埼灯台 | 2nd Generation Awasaki Lighthouse

Source: https://www.kanaloco.jp/news/life/entry-293701.html

野草紀行　城ヶ島 | Wild Grasses on Jogashima

Source: https://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~uu2n-mnt/yaso/kiko/jogasima/yas_kik_jogasima.html

Geoeducation and disaster prevention through exploring the Jogashima geosites | Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2015 (English)

Source: https://confit.atlas.jp/guide/event-img/jpgu2015/00123/public/pdf?type=in

Gallery

Sunrise over Island

Winter sun rising over the island of Jogashima located at the tip of the Miura Peninsula jutting out into Sagami Bay near the mouth of Tokyo Bay.

Jogashima Lighthouse

Located at the western end of Jogashima Island (Miura Peninsula, Kanagawa Prefecture), the Jogashima Lighthouse was designed by Francois Leonce Verny, a French engineer, and completed in 1870 with a brick structure. As was the case with so many structures, the lighthouse collapsed during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

The current structure is a concrete reconstruction dating back to 1926. Even with the advent of modern technologies for Tokyo Bay maritime traffic (VTS in 1977 and DGPS in 1997), the lighthouse is still in operation.

If you visit the eastern end of the island, there is a nice, well-maintained park and the recently constructed Awasaki Lighthouse.

Access is easiest by car, but you can catch a bus from Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Line (approx. 76 min. from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo) and get off at the Jogashima bus stop. From there, it is a short walk to the top of the island.

Wild Grasses of Jogashima Island

In this shot, I was drawn to the golden morning light reflected off of the slender stems of the grass in stark contrast with the dark blues and grays of the cold ocean waters of Sagami Bay. I also liked how the grass was nearly perfectly perpendicular to the horizontal lines of the shore and horizon.

The grass, hachijo-susuki (八丈薄), is a perennial plant that grows everywhere along the coast of Jogashima Island. At 1.5 to 2 meters tall, this grass is similar to Japanese pampas grass, but differs in that the back of the leaf is tinged with a white powder (during full bloom) and serrations on the edge of the leaf are sparse.

According to a pamphlet titled, “三浦三崎の白秋碑,” (Miura-Misaki Hakushuuhi), there are nearly 40 native species of wildflowers growing on the island. In addition to the large number of decorative flowers brought over to the park on the eastern end of the island, there is a large number of flora for visitors to enjoy.

Sedimentary Record of Island Formation

The exposed coastal rocks of Jogashima Island (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) reveal alternating layers of pyroclastic sandstone and mudstone that were deposited on the seafloor about 10 to 4 million years ago. Throughout the island’s shoreline visitors can see a low coastal terrace that was formed by uplift during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

The western end of the island has been a popular destination not only for tourists, but also for many high school and college students who use the island for geological field trips. Various deformations in the sedimentary record can be seen with the naked eye including imbricate thrusts, slumps, and flow folds.

Waves Crashing on Fisherman

Jogashima Island has a fishing port that is home to tuna (maguro) fisherman. The port and coastline has a “rough around the edges” vibe with a touch of charm. Weekend fishermen enjoy offshore fishing on smaller fishing boats and cruisers, or can venture out to the water’s edge to catch fish in the deep waters surrounding the island.

In this shot, a wave crashes onshore as a fisherman seems to be casting a line. Shortly after this shot, the fisherman packed up his gear before the high tide came in.

Border Collie on Coastal Rocks

My border collie taking a break from slipping and sliding on wet, mossy rocks close to the water’s edge. Fortunately, she is a good swimmer and loves the water. Even in the dead of winter, she can’t resist playing in the freezing waters.

Stone and Moss

The exposed coastal rocks of Jogashima Island (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) reveal sandstone and mudstone that have undergone interesting erosion from the constant forces of wind and waves creating microecosystems of flora and fauna that thrive in these tide pools peculiar stone and various colored moss.

Cloudy Island Coastline

Southern coastline of Jogashima Island (Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) with a view of the Umanose Arch in the far distance.

Below is a list of the equipment I took with me on this photo shoot.

Camera Gear:

Pentax K-1 Mark II (K1-II)
https://amzn.to/3gM4KqJ
Standard zoom lens: Pentax D FA 28-105mm f3.5-5.6ed DC WR HD Lens
https://amzn.to/3JlBBPs
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j

Video Gear:

Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1

Filters & Filter Systems:

PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv

Pack:

F-stop Tilopa 50L Adventure and Travel Camera Backpack (Essentials Bundle: backpack, rain cover, internal camera unit)
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n

*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission, which has no effect on your purchase price whatsoever.

Music tracks used in the YouTube video were licensed through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe:

https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/0uag9f/

“Calme” composed by Jakob Ahlbom and performed by Ever So Blue.

“Empty Sky” composed and performed by Victor Lundberg.

“Bermuda” composed by Henrik Olsson and performed by Ooyy.

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