Sakate Island tourist guide: Introducing day-trip courses to explore history and spectacular scenery
Sakate Island, which can be reached by a 10-minute boat trip from Toba Marine Terminal, is home to scenic and historical spots such as Sakate Beach and EdogawaRanpo 's Residence. In this article, we will introduce one-day sightseeing courses and how to get to Sakate Island by boat.
What is Sakate Island?
Sakate Island is a small island floating approximately 600m east of Toba Port, with a circumference of approximately 3.8km.
The only means of transportation is by boat, which can be accessed in about 10 minutes by boat from Toba Port.
It's so close to Toba Port that you can see Sakate Island right in front of you, so you can easily feel like you're on a remote island.
You can enjoy the scenery and history on the island, including the beautiful sandy beach of Sakate Beach and buildings associated with EdogawaRanpo Ranpo.
You can visit all the famous spots on the island in about 2 hours, so even those who are new to remote islands will find it easy to sightsee.
In this article, we will explain in detail Sakate Island's famous spots, day-trip sightseeing courses, and how to get there by boat.
How to get to Sakate Island
You can access Sakate Island by boarding a TobaCity liner that departs from Toba Port (Toba Marine Terminal/Nakanogo).
This boat has a flight to Sakate Island, and the one-way fare is 220 yen for adults (110 yen for children).
Return boarding tickets are sold at the regular boat waiting area on the island, which is located just after getting off the pier.
There are public toilets for men and women here, but please note that this is the only public toilet on the island.
Points to note when boarding the ship
Flights may be canceled in case of stormy weather, so check the weather forecast before making your plans.
Also, there are times when there is a gap of more than an hour between ferry services, so it's best to be aware of the regular boat timetables before you go.
You can check the regular ferry timetable on the official TobaCity Liner website.
Sightseeing spots in Sakate Island
Here, we will introduce some recommended sightseeing spots and famous places on Sakate Island.
We also provide links to maps (Google Maps) for each spot, so please refer to them when visiting.
Sakate fishing port
Sakate Fishing Port is located right next to the pier, so you can easily stop by.
The water here is so transparent that you can see the fish swimming with the naked eye.
At spring tide, the shadow of the ship is reflected on the ocean floor, creating the illusion that the ship is floating in the air.
EdogawaRanpo 's residence ruins
The place where mystery novel writer EdogawaRanpo lived still remains on the island.
Although the building has been demolished, EdogawaRanpo once lived here with his wife.
This place is located on a hill near the pier, but there are no information signs around the area, so it is a famous place only known to those in the know.
To get there, enter the alley of the village from behind the liner waiting area, walk a short distance, turn left at the corner, and climb the stairs leading to the hill, where you will find the ruins of the residence.
There is a house with a reddish exterior on the corner where you turn left, so I think that will be your landmark.
Check the remains of EdogawaRanpo 's residence on Google Maps
Takashi's birthplace (Muraman Shoten)
The village on the island is the birthplace of EdogawaRanpo 's wife, Takashi Murayama, and is also a famous place called ``Takashi's Birthplace.''
This place used to be a general store, and the characteristic pink walls still retain traces of those days.
Wakamiya Shrine
Wakamiya Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the local deity of this island, and is located about a 6-minute walk from the pier.
In 1908, about 10 shrines on the island were enshrined together and it became known as Wakamiya Shrine.
The temple grounds surrounded by large cedar trees have a very quiet atmosphere that will make you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The sound of the waterways and the chirping of birds will be soothing to your ears, allowing you to relax both physically and mentally.
Former Sakate Elementary School
The former Sakate Elementary School closed in 2012 and was the place where EdogawaRanpo met his wife (Takashi Murayama).
Long ago, while working at the Toba Shipyard, EdogawaRanpo formed the Toba Fairy Tale Society with his colleagues and held storytelling sessions at elementary schools around Toba.
At that time, I met Takashi Murayama, who was a teacher at Sakate Elementary School, and we married in 1919.
The former Sakate Elementary School has such wonderful stories, and the schoolyard is in a great location with a panoramic view of the ocean.
According to the islanders, the first sunrise of the year rises in the middle of the schoolyard around New Year's Day.
You can freely walk around the schoolyard, so we recommend eating your lunch here while looking out at the sea.
Hime no Hama
Hime-no-hama is a small beach near Sakate Beach, and is known as the place where the legend of Wahime no Mikoto comes from.
Wahime-no-Mikoto was a princess who is said to have established Naiku of IseJingu by an oracle 2,000 years ago, and it is said that this is where she landed, hence the name ``Princess Beach.''
It is also a place where you can see the beautiful sea nearby, so it is also a recommended spot for a walk.
Sakate Beach
Sakate Beach is a sandy beach at the eastern end of Sakate Island, about a 10-minute walk from the pier.
The beach has continuous shallow water, so you can enjoy swimming, but it is also a scenic spot where you can see the crystal clear sea.
When I visited, it was so clear that I could see the fish swimming in it, and the emerald green sea surface was as beautiful as a jewel.
The waves are calm, so strolling along the shore will soothe you with the soothing sea breeze and sound of the waves.
There is a covered table deck near the beach, and we recommend taking a break while looking out at the ocean.
It is also a great vantage point from which to view Toba's remote islands, such as Toshijima, Sugashima, and Kamishima.
Sakate Island day trip course
Here we introduce day-trip courses that allow you to enjoy sightseeing spots and sightseeing spots on Sakate Island!
The journey will take about 3 hours, and the plan is to take a regular boat from Toba Marine Terminal at 12:55 to Sakate Island.
*The ship schedule is as of March 2023. For the latest timetable, please visit the official website of TobaCity Liner
[11:30] Sadahama Parking Lot 1
Park your car at Sadahama Parking Lot 1 in TobaCity and start your trip!
From here, Toba Marine Terminal is just a few minutes walk away and has good access.
Parking fees vary depending on the size of the vehicle, and fees for regular and light vehicles are as follows:
First hour: Free
1 hour to 2 hours: 500 yen
2 hours to 5 hours: 300 yen per hour
Over 5 hours: 100 yen per hour
Maximum charge for 24 hours: 2,000 yen
In this sightseeing plan, the return boat will arrive at Toba Marine Terminal at 3:10 p.m., so the parking fee is approximately 1,100 yen.
[11:40] Purchase boarding tickets
When you arrive at Toba Marine Terminal, purchase a boarding ticket for the TobaCity liner.
Please note that the fare to Sakate Island is 220 yen one-way, and round-trip tickets are not sold.
Return tickets can be purchased at the liner waiting area on Sakate Island.
[12:00] Meal at the exchange lounge
A coffee shop is attached to the exchange lounge on the 2nd floor of Toba Marine Terminal.
There are no restaurants for tourists on Sakate Island, so we ordered Ise-Udon here for lunch.
If you sit at a table by the window, you can spend your waiting time looking out at the beautiful blue Toba Bay.
[12:45] Board the regular boat
There are several types of ships that go to Sakate Island, and you can't wait until you board to see which ship you can board.
On this day, I boarded the 28th Toba Maru, which had an impressive retro appearance.
There are deck seats on the second floor of the ship, where you can enjoy the cruise while feeling the sea breeze.
Although the roof protects you from the sun, please be careful of sea spray while on board.
The seats on the first floor are completely indoors, so there is no wind or sea spray.
[13:05] Arrive at Sakate Island
Depart from Toba Marine Terminal and arrive at Sakate Island on a 10-minute boat trip!
We arrived so quickly that I was surprised at how close it was.
Immediately after leaving the pier, there is a liner waiting area where you can purchase your return ticket.
I'll be taking the 3:00 p.m. flight back, so I aim to be back here around 2:40 p.m.
[13:10] Stroll through the alleys of the village
There is a village alley behind the liner waiting area, and you can walk along it to visit the famous spots on the island.
There are quaint houses on both sides of the alley, making you feel like you've traveled back in time to the Showa era.
[13:15] Takashi’s birthplace
After entering the alley of the village and walking for a few minutes, you will arrive at a corner of the square.
The pink building here is a famous place called ``Takashi's Birthplace,'' and is the birthplace of EdogawaRanpo 's wife, ``Takashi Murayama.''
The building was once a general merchandise store, and traces of that time still remain today.
If you go down the narrow alley to the right of this building, it will lead you to Wakamiya Shrine.
[13:20] Wakamiya Shrine
After walking for about a minute from Takashi's birthplace, we arrived at the torii gate of Wakamiya Shrine.
The precincts are apparently cleaned every day by the islanders, and the area around the torii gate was so clean that not a single leaf had fallen.
Climbing up the slope to the right of the torii gate will lead you to the former Sakate Elementary School.
【13:30】Former Sakate Elementary School
If you walk for a few minutes on the slope near Wakamiya Shrine, you will see the gate of the former Sakate Elementary School.
This school closed in 2012, but the schoolyard is one of the best viewing points on the island.
This is the view from the schoolyard, a great location overlooking the surrounding islands and the sea!
Go down the slope that leads from the schoolyard to the village and head towards Sakate Beach.
If you go down the slope from the schoolyard, the route will take you along the embankment, leading to Sakate Beach and Hime-no-hama Beach.
You can walk while looking out over the surrounding islands and the ocean, so it's one of the best ways to experience an island trip.
[13:50] Hime no Hama
After walking along the embankment for about 5 minutes, you will see ``Hime-no-hama'', where the legend of Wahime no Mikoto lies.
According to the legend, Wahime no Mikoto often played on this beach, which is why the name ``Hime no Hama'' came from.
[13:52] Sakate Beach
Sakate Beach is just past Himenohama Beach.
There is also an arbor on the beach, so why not relax while looking out at the ocean?
On the way back, if you walk along the embankment and enter the alley of the village, you can get to the pier without having to climb any stairs.
This route takes about 20 minutes on foot from Sakate Beach to the pier.
If you are boarding a boat departing at 3:00 pm, you should leave Sakate Beach around 2:20 pm.
Why not spend some extra time touring the ruins of EdogawaRanpo 's residence or waiting for a boat while looking out at the beautiful sea at Sakate Fishing Port?
summary
We introduced sightseeing spots, famous places, and day-trip courses on Sakate Island.
Another appeal of Sakate Island is that it is easy to visit, as it is a 10-minute boat trip from Toba Port.
Please come and visit Sakate Island, which is full of beautiful nature and history.
Fugamaru-chan (photography/article production)
He is a member of Mie Tourism's Mie Travel Camera Club and is active mainly on Twitter and Instagram as a photographer who takes pictures of Mie. We operate the Mie Photo Gallery, which distributes Mie's scenery for free, and the Mie Eetoko Tour, which disseminates Mie's latest information.
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