Cape Manazuru

Cape Manazuru in Kanagawa prefecture is a scenic spot that juts out from the coastline and is home to the Mitsuishi (“three rocks”). The two largest are joined together with Shinto ropes and there is a tiny little torii gate jutting out of the top of the rock as well. If you manage to catch the sunrise at the beginning of the year from here, you can even see the sun rise in between the two rocks (that must be magical). This was our first stop on our recent Izu road trip. The nearby town of Manazuru is quite a tiny one - it’s the second smallest by population in Kanagawa prefecture, only losing to Kiyokawa near the Tanzawa mountains. It’s most famous for its stone, “Hon-Komatsu-Ishi”, which was quarried and used to build the Edo Castle. Quite cutely, it seems the town’s official motto/logo is “Find Happiness in Manazuru” (幸せをつくる真鶴時間), which is a catchphrase they created in an attempt to boost the town’s tourism. The town's motto was on a random swing near the cape - this one brought us…