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  😉

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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.

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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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Pink blossoms whisper, Quiet streets cradle old tales, Sky and mountains dream.桃の花囁く、 静かな道に古い物語を抱え、 空と山は夢見る。#cherryblossoms #japanesetradition #countrysidecharm #historicaljapan #sakura #offbeatjapan #japan
Dust veils whispered past, Ghostly echoes cradle dreams, Where silence presides.静寂の中で、 囁かれた夢は、 埃に包まれる。#offbeatjapan #japan #urbandecay #abandonedplaces #hauntingbeauty #forgottenworlds #silenthalls #explorejapan
Yellow noren glow, In a calm, verdant alley— Silent history.---黄色の暖簾、 静かな緑の小路に— 静寂の歴史。---#japanesehistory #traditionaljapan #serenealley #historicdistrict #japanesearchitecture #offbeatjapan #japan
Moss whispers secrets, Autumn leaves paint quiet dreams— Water sighs with light. 苔が秘密を囁く 秋の葉が静かな夢を描く 光とともに水がため息をつく #satoyama #woodlandwonder #serenejapan #waterfallmagic #naturepoetry #offbeatjapan #japan
Looped silhouette stands, Twilight's hues of purple blend, Echoes softly fade. ループの影 紫の黄昏が 静かに消える #offbeatjapan #japan #abandonedplaces #rollercoaster #hauntingbeauty #duskcolors #urbanexploration #abandonedthemepark
Warm wood touches sky, Lanterns whisper tales of old; Time stands still, we stroll. 時が止まり、 古の話を、 灯籠囁く。#offbeatjapan #japan #kyoto #kanazawa #traditionaltouch #culturalheritage #historicdistrict
Sunset ocean hues, Wedded Rocks in warm embrace, Harmony of stone. 日没の海、 夫婦岩の抱擁、 石の調和。#MeotoIwa #HarmonyInNature #SereneSunset #CulturalJapan #TravelInspiration #offbeatjapan #japan
Green fields whispering, Mirrors of sky hold secrets, Nature's art unfolds. 緑の田畑 空の鏡が秘密を抱く 自然の芸術広がる#offbeatjapan #japan #ruraljapan #ricefields #naturelovers #landscapephotography #serenebeauty #japaneseheritage