Cruise of YOKOSUKA Naval Port

Parked the car near Shioiri station in Yokosuka city, and wandering around.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

From the pedestrian bridge, JMSDF Yokosuka naval base can be seen in the distance.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Helicopter carrier "Izumo" can be seen.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Getting off the pedestrian bridge, heading for Verny park. There is a parking lot in Verny park too, but is very small.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Verny park.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

First, going to get the ticket for the cruise.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Shioiri terminal, which is the ticket office, is inside Shoppers Plaza which is currently under renovations and a little difficult to find, but there is a signboard.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The ticket for the cruise of YOKOSUKA naval port.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

There is still time, so wandering around Verny park.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Walking by the sea.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Verny park is a French garden with more than 2000 roses. The roses will be in full bloom around May and June.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

A wooden deck continues along the sea.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The other side of the sea is the U.S. naval base.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Most parts of the opposite shore is occupied by the U.S. Navy but a part of it is used by the JMSDF Submarine Flotilla and the submarines here seen here belong to the JMSDF. Submarines can only be seen here or in Kure.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The dry docks of Yokosuka naval base. The no.1 dock was built in 1871 as a part of the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, and still used to repair warships.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

There is a small pier, and the dry docks and submarines can be seen well.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Verny park extends for about 500m.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The statue on the left is Léonce Verny, a French engineer who directed the construction of the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. On the right is Oguri Kōzukenosuke, a statesman of the Tokugawa shogunate who decided to construct the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal as the first arsenal in Japan.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

JMSDF Yokosuka naval base in sight.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Verny park still continues, but there isn't much time left. Turning around.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The other side of the sea is JMDSF Yokosuka naval base.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Many warships, such as the helicopter carrier "Izumo", can be seen.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the right side, the U.S. naval base continues.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

In the far end of Verny park, there is a small museum which introduces the achievements of Léonce Verny. In front of it, a gun barrel of battle ship "Mutsu" of the Imperial Japanese Navy is displayed.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The previous cruise has come back.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Heading back to Shioiri terminal.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The Shioiri pier in front of Shioiri terminal. Passengers are starting to gather.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Boarding the tour boat "Sea Friend 7".
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Leaving Shioiri pier and the tour around Yokosuka naval port is starting.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The right side is U.S. Navy Yokosuka base. The dry docks can be seen up close. The docks No.1 through No.3.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Sōryu class submarines seen up close.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Next is the No.4 and No.5 dry docks. An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is in the dock.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, hull number DDG-56, "John S. McCain".
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the left is the JMSDF Yokosuka base. And the huge vessel, helicopter carrier "Izumo".
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

And other more warships. Will be looking at the JMSDF vessels when returning back.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The right side again. Next to "John S. McCain" is another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, hull number DDG-54, "Curtis Wilbur".br> 2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The home port of these destroyers is Yokosuka.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

At the next pier, are an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, hull number DDG-85, "McCampbell" and a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, hull number CG-67, "Shiloh".
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

U.S. Navy warships in port.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Next is the "main dish" of this tour, the nuclear-powered supercarrier "Ronald Reagan". The pier the aircraft carrier docks can not be seen well from land, and once it leaves port it may not return for months.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Crossing in front of the aircraft carrier. On the left of the aircraft carrier it is a little difficult to see but there is a nuclear submarine docking. It is a rare sight since nuclear submarines are not based in Japan.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

A distant view of U.S. Navy Yokosuka base.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Leaving the main port of Yokosuka port, and gaining speed.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Right outside Yokosuka base, where the port is, many structures can be seen on the sea.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

This is the JMSDF Yokosuka Deperming Station. Ships made of steel, effected by the Earth's magnetic field, gradually gets magnetized and will make it vulnerable to underwater mines detonated by magnetometers. This facility is used to reduce a ship's magnetic signature
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Yokosuka Deperming Station is the only Deperming Station in Japan. JMSDF warships regularly visit this facility to deperm, so you might be able to see the facility in work if you are lucky.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Tug boats near the Deperming Station. These are U.S. Navy tug boats waiting for a warship entering port.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Continuing on, sailing on a rough sea outside Yokosuka bay.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The tour boat turning south for land. On the right is an industrial district.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Where the large crane is the Sumitomo Heavy Industries Yokosuka works. It is a shipbuilding yard building freight vessels such as oil tankers.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Where the car carrier is the Nissan Motor Oppama Plant.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The building like a castle is the Yokosuka city recycle center.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The tour boat is entering Nagaura bay.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the left is Azuma island. The whole island is a U.S. Navy facility.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the right is a JMSDF facility. The Funakoshi district of Yokosuka naval base.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The vessel here is hull number ASE-6102, experiment ship "Asuka". "Asuka" is used to test all sorts of new equipment under development.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The JMSDF Self-Defense Fleet Headquarters is located in Funakoshi district.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

"Asuka" from behind.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Inside Nagaura bay is Nagaura port. Nagaura port is a part of Yokosuka port.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Located in deep within a bay, Nagaura port is a good natural harbor with calm waters. Going around Nagaura port clockwise.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the left is hull number MSO-304, minesweeper "Awaji", docked in Taura area. Many JMSDF facilities besides Funakoshi district are located around Nagaura bay.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Japan Coast Guard patrol boats are docked here too.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Support ships used to carry fuel to JMSDF vessels.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Going all the way around Nagaura port.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

JMSDF Oceanographic research ship "Nichinan" is docked in Funakoshi district too.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Passing Funakoshi district again.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Meanwhile, on the right, submarines can be seen.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

In front is an Oyashio class submarine.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

In behind is a Sōryū class submarine, is a Sōryū class submarine with unique X-shaped stern planes. Passing nearby.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Entering Arai waterway.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Leaving Nagaura bay.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The boat seen on the right, with unique markings is a Target ship.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The retired tug boat will be used as a target for gunnery practice, and will be sunk.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Continuing through Arai waterway. This waterway was dug as a shortcut between Nagaura bay and Yokosuka bay, after some naval facilities were built in Nagaura bay. It took 3 years to dig this waterway, and was completed in 1889.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Azuma island used to be a peninsula but was cut off from main land by this waterway. Ferryboats are operated to across this waterway to access U.S. Navy facilities on the island.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Gone through Arai waterway and returning to Yokosuka bay. Nagaura district, with hull number AMS-4305 Training support ship "Enshū" and utility landing craft No.2.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Next is the Yoshikura pier, with many warships along it.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Yoshikura pier is the main pier in JMSDF Yokosuka naval base.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

From the left, hull number DD-154 destroyer "Amagiri", DD-154 "Akizuki", DD-107 "Ikazuchi". The home port of "Akizuki" is not Yokosuka but Sasebo.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the other side of the pier, from the left, hull number DD-101 destroyer "Murasame", DD-109 "Ariake" and AOE-423 replenishment oiler "Tokiwa". The home port of "Ariake" is Sasebo too.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

A a magnificent sight, that cannot be seen from land.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Along the nest pier is hull number DD-111 destroyer "Ōnami".
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

You can not always see this many warships. Some times there is not even one docked here so the number of warships you can see is a matter of luck.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

And last at Hemi pier, next to Yoshikura pier, hull number DDH-183, helicopter carrier "Izumo" is docked.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Helicopters are on the flight desk. Usually the aircraft carried return to Tateyama air base where they are based, so it is uncommon to see helicopters on the vessels.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

"Izumo" is one of the 2 Izumo class helicopter carriers which are the largest vessels of JMSDF.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

A distant view of the JMSDF warships.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

On the right is Verny park. The tour is close to its end.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

The crew of the submarines are waving their hands.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Docking at Shioiri pier.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Returned to Shioiri pier. The cruise of Yokosuka naval port has finished.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Leaving Yokosuka.
2020, Feb. 8th Yokosuka, Kanagawa