Tranquil scene of nature reclaiming historic structure at Futtsu Park in Japan.
Tranquil forest reclaiming historic structure in serene Futtsu Park, Japan.

Futtsu Park

Futtsu has something special to offer (who’d have thought it!) – a park on a small narrow peninsula. By stretching things a little (6 kilometres anyway), you can reach the seaport of Yokosuka on the other side and make a complete tour of Tokyo Bay.

Futtsu is a city in Chiba prefecture that you probably won’t normally visit and, to be honest, you wouldn’t miss much. As a city it’s completely futsu, which means “rather ordinary” in Japanese. But of course the name isn’t derived from that  😉

abandoned, chiba, haikyo, japan, japanese, kanto, ruin, urban exploration, urbex

But Futtsu has something special to offer (who’d have thought it!) – a park on a small narrow peninsula. By stretching things a little (6 kilometres anyway), you can reach the seaport of Yokosuka on the other side and make a complete tour of Tokyo Bay.

abandoned, chiba, haikyo, japan, japanese, kanto, ruin, urban exploration, urbex

This park is especially popular with local people and birds, but rarely do any of them follow the tracks that disappear into the dense vegetation. The jungle-like aspect is captivating, especially when you stumble across the ruins of some curious low buildings.

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These are former artillery batteries that were built to protect Tokyo Bay. Yokosuka (Miura Peninsula), opposite, also had a number of batteries. Now the site is the Yokosuka Naval Base, notorious for the servicemen who wander Roppongi at night in super kakkoi (cool) mode – bad boys flaunting martial arts weapons such as nunchakus, designed to impress.

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So take care! Military personnel from Yokosuka are often on the prowl at the nearby beaches. Keep a close eye on your partner if you’re lucky enough to have one.

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It’s true the history of these batteries isn’t very clear. Judging by their primitive appearance, they date from the Second World War, when they certainly would have been in use. The US Navy Task Force 31 came here after the Japanese surrender to deactivate the military installations, probably these included.

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But the military presence on the peninsula was also mentioned at the end of the Edo period, going back about 80 years! Maybe earlier installations now  completely destroyed?

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In any case, whether you’re a history buff, fossil hunter or bird watcher, I highly recommend this adventure.

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And with a bit of luck, looking for the path back to reality, you’ll come across even more surprising ruins  🙂

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So that’s the end of our visit to Futtsu. Not quite so ordinary after all, was it?

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Weathered timbers sigh, Whispers of rust weave through beams— Echoes of the past.---風化した木材がため息をつき、 錆びの囁きが梁を抜ける— 過去のこだま。---#rusticjapan #historicdecay #machiya #traditionaljapan #japanarchitecture #offbeatjapan #japan
Sunlight weaves through leaves, Moss whispers to Jizō's grace— Silent guardian. 光が差し込む 苔が地蔵の優雅さを語る— 静かな守護者。 #offbeatjapan #japan #japanesegarden #jizostatue #serenity #mossmagic #spiritualjourney #natureworship
Thatched roofs whisper tales, Green hills cradle time's embrace— Wires sketch future dreams. 茅葺屋根 物語を語る 緑の丘に抱かれて— 未来を描く糸。 #offbeatjapan #japan #traditionandmodernity #ruraljapan #thatchedroofs #natureandtechnology #historicalarchitecture
Wisteria dreams, Purple waves in azure sky, Nature's soft embrace. ウィステリアの夢、 青空に揺れる紫、 自然の優しい抱擁。 #WisteriaWonder #FujiMatsuri #WisteriaFestival #JapanNature #BloomingBliss #offbeatjapan #japan
Rust and gray mingle, Path of ropes winds through the cliffs— Emerald pools gleam.---錆と灰混じる、 崖間綱道行く— 翡翠の池輝く。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #abandonedbeauty #ruggedlandscapes #hiddenjapan #volcanicbeauty #naturelovers
Silent red wishes, Cherry blossoms whispering, Dreams bloom in stillness. 静かな赤の願い、 さくらがささやく、 静けさに夢が咲く。 #cherryblossoms #darumadolls #serenity #natureart #luckycharm #offbeatjapan #japan
Cascading blossoms, Purple dreams against the sky, Nature's soft embrace.  花が降る空へ紫の夢自然の抱擁。  #WisteriaWonder #FlowerCanopy #NatureLovers #AshikagaBloom #FujienFloral #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Steam whispers softly, Sunlight dances on warm stones— Nature's embrace glows. 静かに湯煙、 陽光が石の上で踊る— 自然の抱擁。 #offbeatjapan #japan #onsen #serenity #tranquility #japanesearchitecture #hotspring #culturalretreat