Kanto · Prefecture Guide
Ancient samurai capital, cosmopolitan harbour city, and volcanic hot-spring haven — all within an hour of Tokyo
Kanagawa is the quiet overachiever sitting just south of Tokyo. Within a single prefecture you can bow before an 800-year-old Great Buddha in Kamakura, sip craft beer overlooking Yokohama's neon-lit waterfront, soak in a steaming onsen with a direct view of Mt. Fuji from Hakone, and end the day with fresh shirasu whitebait caught that morning off the Shonan coast. Easily reached by train from Tokyo in 30–90 minutes, Kanagawa rewards visitors who venture beyond the capital — with far fewer crowds than Kyoto and just as much history, beauty, and flavour.
Kanagawa is one of the most accessible prefectures in Japan. Yokohama is 25 minutes from Tokyo by express train, Kamakura is 55 minutes, and Hakone is about 85 minutes via the Odakyu Romancecar — making day trips from Tokyo straightforward, though an overnight stay lets you experience the region at its best.
Deep-dive guides to help you plan every aspect of your visit — from top sightseeing spots to the best restaurants and seasonal events.
Japan's most famous outdoor bronze Buddha stands 13.35 m tall at Kotoku-in temple. Cast in 1252, it has survived typhoons, tsunamis, and earthquakes. The statue is hollow — you can enter for ¥20. Surrounded by wooded hills, it is one of Japan's most serene and iconic sights.
Yokohama's landmark waterfront district combines the towering Landmark Tower observatory, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and the Cosmo Clock Ferris wheel along a beautiful harbour promenade. The night skyline reflected in Yokohama Bay is one of Japan's most spectacular urban views.
A small island connected to the mainland by a 600 m bridge, Enoshima is packed with atmosphere: a hillside shrine complex, sea caves (Iwaya), a sea candle lighthouse with Mt. Fuji views, quirky street food, and the famous Bentenjima tidal flat at sunset.
Asia's largest Chinatown fills 500+ shops and restaurants into a labyrinth of vermillion gates and neon-lit alleyways. Founded after the 1859 opening of Yokohama port, it's a living piece of history. The Kanteibyo temple (1871) and the spectacular Zenpukumon Gate are standouts.
Japan's first open-air art museum spreads 70,000 m² of mountain meadow with over 120 large-scale sculptures by Rodin, Miro, Calder, and Picasso. Walk through works of art with Mt. Hakone in the background. The indoor Picasso Pavilion holds the world's largest Picasso collection outside Europe.
Yokohama Chinatown is a feast for all senses. Join the queue for giant nikuman (steamed pork buns), graze on baked custard tarts, and settle into a banquet hall for proper dim sum and Cantonese roast duck. The food here is more authentic and more varied than anywhere else in Japan.
The Shonan coast is Japan's capital of shirasu (whitebait). Dozens of restaurants along the Kamakura–Enoshima coast serve raw or boiled shirasu over hot rice in a bowl, often eaten overlooking the sea. The season runs March to December — in winter, the area switches to dried shirasu.
Ie-kei (家系) ramen was born in Yokohama in 1974. Its hallmark is a rich, creamy tonkotsu-shoyu broth with thick straight noodles, three slices of chashu pork, spinach, and nori seaweed draped over the bowl. Yoshimuraya in Shin-Yokohama is the legendary birthplace.
Miura's Misaki port is one of Japan's top tuna landing sites, offloading catches from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The town around it is packed with tuna-everything restaurants: tuna sashimi, tuna ramen, tuna curry, tuna ice cream. Fresh and cheap — a 90-minute train from Tokyo.
Odawara has been Japan's kamaboko (fish paste) capital for centuries, thanks to its fishermen and the Hakone mountains providing fresh spring water. Visit a kamaboko factory and watch artisans shape it by hand, then graze through the seafood market at Odawara Port for grilled fish and negitoro rolls.
Hakone sits inside the caldera of an ancient volcano, with Lake Ashi reflecting Mt. Fuji on clear mornings. Cruise across the lake on a replica pirate ship, ride the Hakone Ropeway over steaming Owakudani volcanic vents, and stroll through beech forests on the Hakone Old Highway — all in one day.
The Tanzawa range is the nearest serious mountain hiking to Tokyo, with peaks topping 1,500 m. The Omote-Tanzawa plateau is carpeted with ancient beech forest, and autumn colours here rival Nikko's. The iconic Mt. Oyama offers a steep but rewarding 2-hour ascent with sweeping Sagami Bay views.
The 15 km Shonan coast stretches from Kamakura to Chigasaki with Japan's most famous surf beaches and stunning sunset views of Mt. Fuji silhouetted across the water. In summer it's packed; in winter, when skies are clearest, you'll often have the sand to yourself with Fuji dominating the horizon.
The rugged southern tip of Kanagawa offers dramatic sea cliffs, small fishing harbours, and clear water ideal for snorkelling. Jogashima island at the very tip has a 3 km coastal walk with lighthouse views, tidal pools full of sea creatures, and wild flowers carpeting the clifftops in spring.
Oyama (1,252 m) has been a sacred mountain since antiquity — the Afuri Shrine at its peak has been a pilgrimage destination for 2,000 years. The forested trail passes waterfalls and stone lanterns before revealing panoramic views of Sagami Bay and Mt. Fuji. The footpath is lined with restaurants serving mountain tofu.
Hakone has been Japan's most popular hot spring resort for centuries, drawing the Tokyo elite seeking mountain air and volcanic mineral waters. Dozens of ryokan offer private outdoor baths (rotenburo) with Mt. Fuji views, multi-course kaiseki dinner, and yukata robes. A classic Japanese experience just 80 minutes from Shinjuku.
A free-entry amusement park in the heart of Minato Mirai, anchored by the 112 m Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel (free to look at, paid to ride). Roller coasters, water rides, and game arcades line the waterfront. The giant wheel lights up spectacularly at night against the harbour skyline.
Built right on the Sagami Bay coastline, Enosui is one of Japan's most beautiful aquariums. The deep-sea tank recreates the canyon off the coast of Sagami Bay, while the jellyfish fantasy hall glows with dozens of ethereal species. The dolphin and seal shows play out against open ocean views.
A combined aquarium and amusement park on a small island in Yokohama, connected to the mainland by a scenic pedestrian bridge. The aquarium holds walruses, beluga whales, and dozens of other species, while the park outside has roller coasters including one that dives into the sea. Entry to the island is free.
The Shonan coast is the birthplace of Japanese surf culture. Chigasaki and Kamakura's Yuigahama Beach host surf schools, board rentals, and beach bars from June to September. The coastal cycling route from Kamakura to Enoshima and beyond is flat, scenic, and ideal for a half-day ride.
The Kamakura Festival fills the city with samurai-era pageantry for two weeks in April. The highlight is yabusame — mounted archery at full gallop through the avenue of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. Processions in Heian court costume, traditional dance performances, and the scent of spring blossoms fill the ancient streets.
One of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the Kanto region launches from Yokohama Bay each summer, with 10,000+ shells reflected in the harbour waters as Minato Mirai's skyscrapers form the backdrop. Reserve a restaurant terrace seat or stake out a spot on the Marine Tower observation deck months in advance.
The Hakone Ekiden is Japan's most watched New Year sports event — a two-day relay marathon between Tokyo and Hakone involving 20 university teams. Over 3 million spectators line the 217 km route; 30 million more watch on TV. The mountain section through Hakone on Day 2 is among the most dramatic in athletics.
Odawara Castle transforms into the headquarters of the Hojo clan during this three-day festival commemorating the castle's five great lords. Over 1,000 participants march in full 16th-century samurai armour and court costume past the castle walls, with naginata and sword demonstrations, firing drills, and taiko drumming.
Held in the Red Brick Warehouse plaza on Yokohama's waterfront, this official partner event of the Munich Oktoberfest is Japan's largest, drawing 300,000 visitors over three weeks. Authentic German beer, pretzels, sausages, and live oompah bands in front of the illuminated Minato Mirai skyline — a uniquely Yokohama spectacle.
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