Trip reports
Coastal Getaway to Oiso
Resting along Sagami Bay, Oiso is a charming town known for its laid back vibes and seaside offerings.
Along its coastline, tranquil beaches offer surfing and sunbathing opportunities, while restaurants provide delicious meals with captivating views. In addition to its beach-centric atmosphere, Oiso also features an enchanting Japanese garden intertwined with cultural sites. Since Oiso’s coast is easily explorable via foot, it makes for an excellent day trip where you can enjoy a slower pace of life.
Oiso Station is a little over an hour train ride from Tokyo Station via the Tokaido Line.
OISO CONNECT
OISO CONNECT, a roughly 10-minute walk from Oiso Station, is a stylish facility that houses a market and cafe. The market area sells fresh fish from Oiso Port, as well as agricultural and processed products from Oiso. The market’s snack corner is popular for its soft serve ice cream and its fish burger, which uses local Oiso ingredients.
On the second floor, the facility has a cafe and terrace area with expansive views of Oiso Port and Sagami Bay. The cafe’s main menu has a variety of savory eats, including pasta, curry, and burgers. For sweets, the large pancake menu is filled with unique options like caramel banana & espresso mousse pancakes, fresh strawberry pancakes with hot chocolate, royal milk tea pancakes, and lemon custard cream pancakes with salt gelato. These Japanese-style pancakes are tall and fluffy—acting as perfect vessels for the delectable flavor combinations. Thanks to its pleasant views and satisfying cuisine, OISO CONNECT is a great place to start your beachside walking tour.
Terugasaki Coast
Situated a short five-minute walk from OISO CONNECT, Terugasaki Coast is designated as a natural monument of Kanagawa Prefecture since it is a stopping point for aobato, or white-bellied green pigeons. From May to November in the early morning, you can watch the aobato emerge from the mountains and forests to drink seawater, which replenishes their salt and mineral levels.
Aside from its cute visitors, Terugasaki Coast is also a pleasant place to admire the ocean. Here, rugged coastlines and rocky outcroppings meet the sea, and the silhouettes of mountains and forests frame the scenery. On clear days, you can even see Mt. Fuji.
Koyurugi no Hama
If you follow the shoreline for about 15 minutes from Terugasaki Coast, you will reach Koyurugi no Hama, a relaxing beach. Featuring similar views to Terugasaki Coast, Koyurugi no Hama is an ideal place to continue your leisurely stroll. Sink your feet into the shifting sand, feel the salty breeze on your skin, listen to the ocean’s melodic ebb and flow, and immerse yourself in the picturesque scenery. The beach is typically uncrowded, allowing you to enjoy a peaceful time.
Oiso Joyama Park and Shigeru Yoshida’s Former Residence
Oiso Joyama Park is about a 20-minute walk from Koyurugi no Hama. This lush greenspace is home to Shigeru Yoshida’s Former Residence and a beautiful Japanese-style garden and was the site of the Mitsui group’s former owner’s villa. In contrast to the predominantly blue and beige tones of the seaside landscapes, Oiso Joyama Park offers a verdant oasis teeming with plant life.
Shigeru Yoshida—who once served as the Prime Minister of Japan—lived in his Oiso residence from 1945. The structure visible today is a restoration of Shigeru Yoshida’s residence and is best known for its modern sukiya architectural style, which emphasizes simple and natural designs that harmonize with their surroundings. You can enter the home for 510 yen and explore rooms that merge traditional and modern designs, including an office and reception room, a study room, a dining room, and even a room where you can view Mt. Fuji.
The park is also home to Oiso Municipal Museum, which showcases exhibitions about the surrounding areas, Shiroyama-an tea house, and an observatory that is designated as one of the 100 views of Fujimi in Kanto. Fujimi refers to a place where Mt. Fuji is viewable. From ground level to hillside panoramas, Oiso Joyama Park offers scenic views no matter where you look.
After your time in the park, you can take a 15-minute bus ride to Oiso Station or continue exploring.
Visit Oiso
With its local atmosphere, soothing beachside vistas, cultural sites, and mesmerizing gardens, Oiso is a charming destination that offers a reprieve from busy city life. Hop on a direct train from Tokyo, and enjoy the town’s wonders.
