Manazuru

Situated on Sagami Bay, Manazuru, in southwest Kanagawa Prefecture, is a popular location for water sports, stunning views of the bay and surrounding verdant forests. The town also hosts a well-attended annual festival named Kibune Matsuri which is held at Kibune Shrine every July. 

Manazuru is also home to Arai Castle Ruins Park (Araijoshi-koen) which is surrounded by a bamboo forest and is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in springtime. In the evening the blossoms are illuminated making it super Instagram friendly. 

With a car it's easy to drive down to Cape Manazuru which lies at the tip of the Manazuru Peninsula Prefectural Nature Park and has incredible views of the Izu Peninsula, Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture and Izu Seven Islands. 

The area also has a museum dedicated to the works of acclaimed Japanese artist Kazumasa Nakagawa. This titan of the Japanese and global art world is highly respected and the museum has become a real tourist draw. The museum has a collection of 652 pieces by Nakagawa and affords some beautiful views of the Manazuru Peninsula.