Iwa: Beach and Stone-Cutting History

Iwa brings together a small sandy beach and links to the history of stone cutting. The Iwa stone-cutting area has visible traces of quarrying and the Hiradai plateau, which was formed by a lava flow. There are also dive sites off the coast of Iwa and the Iwaikaigan Summer Festival. When planning a trip, you can choose among different focuses: the coast, cultural heritage, geological formation, diving, and a cultural event.

Iwa Beach: Beach and Getting There

Iwa Beach is a small sandy beach about 200 meters long. It is known as the beach from which Minamoto no Yoritomo set sail. From Manazuru Station, you can reach the beach by bus in five minutes; on foot, it takes about 17 minutes. This lets you weigh a shorter travel time against a longer walk. Check travel information before setting out. The swimming area at Iwa Beach has restrooms and showers, whose availability may vary by season. If these facilities are important for your stay, check their availability for your travel dates.

Stone-Cutting History and Landscape

On the beach in the Iwa stone-cutting area, you can see remnants of stone quarrying from the Edo period in the 17th century. The stonecutters’ ancestral monument in the Iwa district records that Tsuchiya Kakuei first carried out stone quarrying there toward the end of the Heian period. Thus, an early historical account and later visible traces from the Edo period stand side by side. Hiradai lies in the southern part of the Iwa stone-cutting area. The plateau was formed about 180,000 to 170,000 years ago by a lava flow. This timeframe is far earlier than the historical periods of stone working. The contrast offers a dual perspective on Iwa: the area can be viewed both through the human history of stone quarrying and through a volcanic landscape that is much older.

Iwaikaigan Summer Festival

The Iwaikaigan Summer Festival is designated an important traditional cultural event of the town of Manazuru; the event address is 957-1 Iwa, Manazuru. The festival includes floating lanterns on the water, fireworks over the sea, and Bon Odori dancing. Food and drink stalls are also part of the festival. Activities and stall offerings may vary. If you would like to combine your stay with the festival, check the event dates and the program for that year.

Dive Sites and Finding a Hotel

IWA Diving Center has one shore-entry dive site and four boat-access dive sites off the coast of Iwa. For planning, it is helpful to start by distinguishing the access options: one shore-entry dive site or one of the four boat-access sites. As the setup may change, check in advance if diving is part of your stay. If you are looking for hotels in Iwa, start with your travel priorities and compare the specific listing details for your dates.

Explore more destinations: Manazuru, Ashigarashimo District, Chuo, Zushi, Yugawara, Sagamihara, Hiratsuka, Hadano.

For the main travel overview: Kanagawa Prefecture.