Mikasa

Mikasa (1902-)

Flagship of the Japanese Navy that destroyed the Tsar's fleets.

The Mikasa is tucked away at Yokosuka, SE of Yokohama( and Tokyo), in it's own tiny city park, restored, if somehow feeling run-down, a potential history gold-mine. For a general admission price of 500 Yen the ship is well worth the money to visit: a reasonable visit is only an hour long, plus 15 minutes walk each way! It could be combined with a longer trip to Kamakura.

Getting There

The Keihin-Kyuko ("Keikyu" Line) from Yokohama or Shinagawa (private line- 620 yen, 45 minutes) Get the fastest express (Kyuko): a red direction label or a snazzy train is a good sign: black is generally SLOW. The JR Yokosuka line ( Yokosuka station) is okay too, but slower and further from the ship: it is however the way to go to/from Kamakura.

From JR Yokosuka cross the road and head right... about 7-10 minutes later (it's a relaxing walk: you can go through a narrow shoreline park: and see some current Japanese vessels- last time I was there 6 surface warships and 4 submarines!) you should be at the malls and Victoria Station resturaunt . That, other than having a nice salad bar is in front of where Seiju station is, so just keep going...

The best stop on the Keihin Kyuko is Seiju: just go out of the station, and at the main road ahead of you turn right along it, [the new malls here have a nice 100-yen shop for resident bargain searchers-)and walk along for 7-10 minutes, past the big US fleet activities entrance. Take the minor road which goes off to the left at the multi-storey parking building, ( it is/ signposted to Mikasa Park somewhere, I missed it ) and you'll be the pedestrian walk that leads to Mikasa in a minute.

If you think you missed it remember the Mikasa is right next to the sea: the next turning on foot to the right will also take you there.
Parking: didn't I just mention that: usual Japanese style about 200m from the ship.

[You can also reach the Mikasa from Yokosuka Chuo: but here directions are probably useless: just follow your instincts right and ahead to get to the sea: that station's 5 minutes closer, maybe, but in the middle of shopping city confusion.]

History

Consider this: in 1904-5 the unregarded Japanese navy harried and eventually contained the Russian Far East fleet at Port Arthur, which was finally taken by land forces. Meanwhile the Russian Baltic fleet sailed into the Atlantic, round Africa to destroy the ursurper. The world expected victory for the Russians' powerful battle group.

The Russian fleet tried to run the straits of Korea to port at Vladivostock, but spotted at sea were caught near the island of Tsushima by the Japanese. The Russian dream was over- the Japanese fleet led by Mikasa, flagship of Admiral Togo devastated the front-line battleships in half an hour. This engagement led on to a complete rout where only one cruiser and support ships reached a Russian port. A near unique destruction of a fleet- due to good, mainly British, ship design, high training, decisive leadership and determination. This led directly to the "1905 Revolution" in Russia- and ensured militarism's role in Japanese culture for the next 40 years,

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