The Yokosuka Line is a railway line that goes from central Tokyo down the Miura Peninsula that forms the south-western flank of Tokyo Bay.
The Yokosuka Line therefore links Tokyo to the big cities of Kawasaki and Yokohama, the popular travel destination of Kamakura, and the city of Yokosuka.
From Tokyo Station, some Yokosuka Line trains continue on east via the Sobu Line to Chiba prefecture without the need to change trains.
For convenience it is referred to the Yokosuka Line all the way from Tokyo Station to the last stop of Kurihama Station, but the Yokosuka Line proper is the section of the line south of Ofuna Station.
Yokosuka Line History
The Miura Penisula has always been militarily important because of its strategic position at the mouth of Tokyo Bay. The Yokosuka Line serving the peninsula was built well over a century ago, in 1889, to provide transportation to what was one of Japan's most important military bases.
The Yokosuka Line proper (Ofuna southwards) ran only as far as Yokosuka until 1944 when it was extended as far as its current terminal station, Kurihama, to cope with a surge in post-war use.
The Yokosuka Line underwent a major renovation in 1980 when a dedicated line was built for it between Tokyo and Ofuna. This massive project, called the "SM Separation," involved, among other things, establishing the new station, Shin-Kawasaki, and relocating the Yokohama Station building and the adjacent Tokyu Toyoko station. Yokosuka Line trains now run parallel to the Tokaido Line as far as Ofuna instead of on it, greatly relieving rail congestion.
Yokosuka Line Stations
There are 19 stations on the Yokosuka Line, which covers a distance of a little over 70 km. All Yokosuka Line trains are local (kakueki-teisha 各駅停車) stopping at every station. Between Yokohama and Ofuna stations, the Yokosuka Line acts as a local service for the Tokaido Line, which it runs parallel to.
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