Kanagawa Tourism at Matta Fair
If you still need to learn, Kanagawa prefecture is one of the up-and-coming destinations in Japan to visit for 2018. This is because it is located closest to Tokyo and is one of the exciting places in Japan that many need to learn about. When you talk about Japan, most people will mention Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, or Nagoya as places they have visited.
Kanagawa Tourism at Matta Fair
But only some will tell you to go to Kanagawa, and sometimes we wonder why. Is there not enough information about this prefecture? In this article, I will share information on Kanagawa and its interesting places to visit. At the Matta Fair 2017, Kanagawa Tourism was present at the Japan booth and provided much information about the many places around here.
Where is Kanagawa?
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| The beautiful & vibrant city of Yokohama, photo by www.yokoosojapan.com. |
In the Southern Kanto Region, Kanagawa is part of the greater Tokyo region, and the capital city is Yokohama. It only takes about half an hour to train from Tokyo and can be visited on a day trip. It is also well-known for the areas of Hakone and Kamakura, which are popular tourist destinations.
Kanagawa boasts multiple tourist attractions and sites, and the best option for visitors here is to spend a few nights in Yokohama. This will allow you to explore the prefecture without having to travel far.
Alternatively, you can also stay in Odawara city, which is about a half-hour from Tokyo, via the Shinkansen bullet train. Odawara is much closer to Mount Fuji and Hakone, making travel a little easier.
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| The pirate ship cruise at Lake Ashi with a Mt.Fuji view. |
What to do in Kanagawa?
You will be surprised by the number of things you can do in the Kanagawa region. The most popular is visiting Mount Fuji, Japan’s icon. However, further exploration will reveal other unique and exciting places in Kanagawa. If you love the outdoors, this is the place to visit.
Other places of interest include Hakone, home to many Buddhist and Shinto shrines and rich in traditional Japanese culture. Odawara is also well known for its traditional Japanese castles, and Lake Ashi is known for its ship cruises, which offer amazing views. Below is a list of things to do in Kanagawa.
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| A different view of Mount Fuji in Kanagawa is rarely seen in photos. |
1. Get the Best View of Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is located about two hours from Odawara city and is the most popular mountain in Japan. If you want to see the best view of Mount Fuji, I recommend you visit Hakone.
Many travellers stay in traditional homestays or ryokans around the Mount Fuji area in the winter or spring to experience this. Another popular choice is staying at an Onsen or a traditional Japanese hot spring resort in Hakone.
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| Yokohama City at night with beautiful lights. Photo by www.ietf.org. |
2. Explore Yokohama
Yokohama, the second-largest city in Japan, is the closest large city to Tokyo and only 30 minutes by train. There is so much to see and do in Yokohama that I can’t even list all of it. However, famous places include Yokohama Chinatown (one of the largest in the world) and Yamashita Park, which is perfect for nature lovers because of its natural beauty.
Other places include the Red Brick Warehouse Park, Isezakichō and Noge for fusion and lifestyle food lovers, Motomachi shopping area, Minato Mirai 21 harbourside, Queen’s Square Yokohama and Shin-Yokohama district where you can find the famous Ramen Museum.
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| Odawara Castle sunset. Photo by Agustin Rafael Reyes. |
3. Visit the Western Area of Kanagawa
Located in the western area of Kanagawa, this place is home to the Odawara Castle, one of the important castles of Japan built in the mid-15th century, which was also the entrance city to Hakone.
Odawara is also best visited in Autumn as the natural landscapes provide a Japanese autumn experience. Nature lovers will also find the Kanagawa area very interesting. For those who enjoy the seaside or scuba diving, visit Enoura town, which is well known for this sport.
For Onsen lovers, visit Tenzan Onsen, one of Odawara’s recommended Japanese hot springs. You will also find that the Fuji-Hakone Izu National Park has some fantastic scenery.
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4. Cultural Kamakura
If you love Japanese temples and shrines, Kamakura is the place to visit. This 800-year-old historical city sat by the southern Japanese coast and was once the Shogunate capital of Japan.
There are also over 20 Buddhist and Shinto shrines throughout Kamakura, of which Kamakura Daibutsu is among the most famous. Another reason many people visit Kamakura is that many traditional Japanese festivals and events are held here. This small town is recommended for anyone wanting something laid-back and different.
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| The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki is also known as the Doraemon Museum. |
5. Visit the Doraemon Museum in Kawasaki
For Doraemon fans, this is the home of the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The museum is called the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, but it is commonly known to everyone as the Doraemon Museum.
If you are staying in Yokohama, arriving via train takes only one hour. Every Malaysian or Southeast Asian knows Doraemon, and this is the ultimate visit to the home of the cute little Japanese blue cat.
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| The famous Hakone Shrine or Hakone Jinja at Lake Ashi. Photo by www.linaka.co.uk. |
6. Japanese Shrine in Lake Ashi
Lake Ashi is among the most popular Japanese lakes in the Hakone area of Kanagawa. People come here to see the famous red Hakone shrine or Hakone Jinja on the lake and get that Instagram or Facebook photo.
From this lake, you can also get some of the best photos of Mount Fuji in the background, which are different from the ones you usually see. There are also sightseeing cruises along this lake and many nature activities.
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| View of Mount Fuji from an Onsen in Hakone. |
7. Try the Hakone Onsen
Hakone is a small town, a gateway to Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, and a Geopark designated by UNESCO. But people come here mostly for the famous traditional Japanese hot springs or Onsen.
Undoubtedly, Onsen is found all over Japan; Hakone is one of the main areas for Onsen, as many are found here, ranging from Ryokan to Resorts. One of the main reasons is the hot spring waters and the impeccable views of Mount Fuji in the background.
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| One of the hot springs in Hakone. |
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| Kanagawa is your next destination in Japan. |
Conclusion
The above are just some of the places in Kanagawa that you can explore, as there are many more untouched or non-commercialized areas worth visiting. You can also check out the Kanagawa Prefectural Government website for more information on Kanagawa.
Hopefully, Kanagawa Tourism will attend the next Matta Fair in March or September. It all depends, and if more people visit Kanagawa from now until then, they may participate. This is the best place to get first-hand information on Kanagawa and its surroundings.
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