Walking in the Neighborhood

The longer I live in my neighborhood - the more I like to go for a walk - or what the Japanese call, "sanpo" (stroll). There are two really great places to walk where I live - one by the sea, and one through the heart of the housing. Both pathways are nicely separated from vehicular traffic - one is a beautiful landscaped "spine" through the center of the neighborhood - the other is major recreational facility. Both connect the neighborhood's east and west sides.

The Mabori Kaigan brick walkway, as I've started calling it, is about 0.8 miles long. It passes directly by two neighborhood parks, but is also very close to a third park, the neighborhood swimming pool, and the neighborhood commercial center. The pathway is signed just for bicycles and pedestrians - no vehicular traffic is permitted. Composed of brick pavers, the walkway is approximately 8 feet wide, although it is centered within an approximate 24 feet right of way. The right of way is lushly planted with flowering shrubs and trees, making it a delight to walk along during spring, summer and fall.

The seaside promenade is part of a larger linear park and trail system by the City of Yokosuka that follows the shoreline of Tokyo Bay. In Mabori Kaigan, the seawall serves a utilitarian purpose as well - it protects the neighborhood from flooding during storm surges. Approximately one mile long, the seawall has an upper and lower level along the bayfront, but also consists of two other sidewalks sections, and a palm tree planted verge along the coastal roadway (Yokosuka Kaigan Dori). The walkway attracts hundreds of area residents during nice weather.

View Walkways in Mabori Kaigan in a larger map