Hotta Elementary School (Stay $28 / Bath $3.5)・Fushihime Cave・Nomizo Falls・Hunter’s Drive-In
📖 Reading Time: 10 min
💬 What This Story Is About
This is a spontaneous road trip report from a 50-something couple (plus our Shiba Inu, Momiji), built around one simple impulse: “I just want to ride a ferry.”
Even in the rain, we found freedom, humor, and small discoveries along the way.
If you love slow travel, dogs, or simply want to move when your heart says so—this one’s for you.
👥 Recommended For:
- Dog owners looking for easy drive trips
- Travelers searching for rainy-day destinations
- Anyone in their 50s rediscovering freedom and spontaneity
Even if it’s raining, it’s okay to just go.
This guide covers a real route, realistic costs, and everything we learned from the road.
🗓 Trip Data (Actual Drive)
Date: October 2025 (Rainy Day)
Members: Husband + Wife + Shiba Inu (Momiji)
Route: Sagamihara → Kurihama Port (Tokyo Bay Ferry) → Kanaya Port → “Hotta Elementary School” Roadside Station → Fushihime Cave → Nomizo Falls → Hunter’s Drive-In (Kimitsu) → Umihotaru → Sagamihara
Duration: One full day
💴 Cost Overview
| Item | Cost (approx.) |
| Ferry (Car + 1 driver) | One way $35 / Round-trip $63 |
| Ferry (1 additional passenger) | $7 |
| Aqua-Line Expressway | $20–$27 (holiday) |
| Food & Bath | See each section |
Prices as of Oct 2025. Check official websites for updates.
🐕 Dog-Friendly Tips (All Spots)
- Always leash your dog. Indoor entry is usually restricted; terrace dining is OK.
- Bring: towel for paws, water bottle, waterproof shoes .
- Be careful on slippery natural paths. Keep walks short if needed.
🌅 Prologue: The Random Impulse That Started It All
The first morning of my summer break, I woke up thinking,
“I want to ride a ferry.”
That’s it. No reason. Just a childish urge.
When I told my wife, she said, “Wait, what? Why?”
Fair question. But when a man in his 50s gets that feeling—he just goes.
Sometimes, you’ve got to follow the impulse.
🚢 Tokyo Bay Ferry: Kurihama → Kanaya (40 min)
■Buying One Way as a Luxury
- Car + driver: $35 (one way) / $63 (round-trip)
I skipped the round-trip discount to keep my return time free.
I paid $7 more for the luxury of not being tied down.
That’s what I call “buying freedom.”
■The Ride
Spacious lounge, calm seas, and… gray skies.
The rain blurred the horizon, but there was still a certain peace in that.
Even on a holiday, the ferry wasn’t crowded—most people just take the Aqua-Line bridge now.
🎥 [Video] The Calm Sea from the Tokyo Bay Ferry (YouTube Shorts)
👉 Watch on YouTube
Even in the rain, the sound of the engine and waves feels soothing.
Sometimes, the quiet moments when “nothing happens” are the most luxurious part of a journey.
Wife: “We came here years ago with the kids.”
Me: “We did?”
(50s memory gap confirmed. Grateful she still laughs about it.)
Tips – Tokyo Bay Ferry
- 40-minute sea crossing—perfect for a short escape.
- Rain-friendly and car-inclusive.
- Check latest fares and timetable before departure.
🏫 Roadside Station “Hotta Elementary School”
■A School Turned into a Roadside Station
Built in 1888 → Closed in 2014 → Reborn in 2015.
Hallways, chalkboards, lockers… all intact. Nostalgia overload.
The gymnasium now hosts a lively market full of local food and crafts.
■What We Ate (Honest Review)
- Fried Horse Mackerel (Aji-fry): Decent, but could’ve been great if freshly fried.
- Bento Lunch Box: Average taste, but the setting—a classroom lunch—made it fun.
■Stay or Bathe Here
- Lodging: from $28 per adult (simple rooms)
- Bath only: $3.5 (Weekdays 10:30–16:00 / Weekends 10:30–14:00 / Closed Thu)
- Dogs: no indoor access; terrace seating OK.
Next time: I want to pose with a school backpack.
(Maybe nostalgia hits harder when you’re 50.)
Tips – Hotta Elementary School
- Great value for lodging and baths.
- No dinner service, so plan to bring food or eat out.
- Book by phone, 4 days in advance.
🕳 Fushihime Cave: Quiet, Narrow, and a Bit Scary
■Getting There
The road is extremely narrow—two cars can’t pass.
Drive carefully; once there, the parking lot is surprisingly big and empty.
■The Walk
Round-trip about 2.2 km.
After rain, it’s muddy and slippery. Momiji tried to chase a crab—classic dog move.
My wife said, “Since we’re here, let’s walk.”
It wasn’t “just a short walk.” It was a mini-hike.
Still, the silence and old legend of the Eight Dog Warriors (Hakkenden) gave the place a mystical charm.
Tips – Fushihime Cave
- Narrow road: avoid large vehicles.
- Watch your step; go only if you really want to.
- Go during daylight; it’s eerily quiet.
🌿 Nomizo Falls (Kameiwa Cave): Momiji’s Big Smile Moment
The air felt cooler the moment we arrived—trees everywhere.
It’s a short, 20-minute walk, but totally refreshing.
The heart-shaped reflection?
Nope, didn’t appear—wrong season and weather.
But the scenery was beautiful enough without it.
Momiji loved it.
She splashed around in the river while my shoes got soaked.
Lesson learned: waterproof sandals or boots are essential.
🎥 [Video] Momiji Having the Time of Her Life at Kameiwa Cave (YouTube Shorts)
Tips – Nomizo Falls
- Easy 20-minute stroll; photogenic even in rain.
- Bring non-slip shoes.
- Heart-shaped light appears only around equinox mornings (Mar/Sep).
🦌 Hunter’s Drive-In (Kimitsu): A Taste of the Wild
Taxidermy, furs, and wild game meat everywhere—like a mini hunting museum.
They even had a bear on display (ironically, Chiba has no wild bears).
There’s an all-you-can-eat buffet for $18, but we skipped it this time.
Tips – Hunter’s Drive-In
- Located inside “Fureai Park Kimitsu” Roadside Station.
- Parking free. Hours vary by season.
🌊 Back via Umihotaru → Ending the Day in the Pool
On the way back, we crossed the Aqua-Line bridge, stopping at Umihotaru for ocean views.
By the time we got home, I was exhausted—but I still went swimming.
Why? Because habits drive your future self.
30 minutes later, I felt lighter—physically and mentally.
🌤 Epilogue: A Day Made from Nothing
It all started with one small thought: “I want to ride a ferry.”
And somehow, that became a full story.
Even with rain, mud, and average fried fish, it turned into a good memory.
Next time, I’ll go again—
maybe on a sunny day, maybe alone,
but definitely, by ferry.
■📍Practical Summary (Save This!)
- Ferry: $35 one way (car+driver) / $63 round-trip. Round-trip is cheaper, but limits flexibility.
- Hotta Elementary School: Stay $28 / Bath $3.5. No dinner service—bring your own or dine out.
- Fushihime Cave: Narrow road + muddy trail. Skip if unsure.
- Nomizo Falls: Waterproof shoes essential. “Heart reflection” visible only under rare conditions.
- Dog-Friendly: Use terraces, carry towels and water. Beware slippery spots near water.
All experiences and prices are as of October 2025. Check official sources before visiting.
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