Tokyo, Japan’s capital and the center of Japan, is located in the Kanto region. Other areas like the port city of Yokohama (Kanagawa) where you can enjoy making your own world famous CUP NOODLES and Nikko (Tochigi) and Hakone (Kanagawa) popular for World Heritage Sites, hot springs and spectacular nature, are also famous in the Kanto region.
Highlights
Asakusa
Asakusa, one of the most famous cities in Tokyo, has many attractive tourist destinations. When you’re in Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple is a must-visit destination. It offers a taste of the old-style, downtown atmosphere. Not only sightseeing, but you can also try on a kimono and stroll around the shopping street called Nakamise, which stretches out in front of you after you pass through the symbolic Kaminari-mon Gate, or enjoy a rickshaw ride around the area.
Hakone & Mt.Fuji
Hakone, in Kanagawa Prefecture, is famous for its 17 hot springs and 20 different types of water. From Lake Ashi, you can see the tallest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, along with the spectacular views of the four seasons. Also enjoy a wonderful time on a sightseeing boat. At Owakudani Valley, the desolate land is filled with white smoke and forms a unique landscape. You can ride the ropeway and feel the majestic nature from above. Hakone also holds events and traditional ceremonies throughout the year. The Hakone Daimonji-yaki, the Lake Festival, and the Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu are among the three major festivals in Hakone.
Nikko
Nikko, in Tochigi Prefecture, is easily accessible from Asakusa in about two hours by limited express train. 103 temples and shrines in Nikko are registered as World Heritage sites. Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the most famous of these, is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 1600s, and contains cultural assets that represent the gorgeous architecture of the Edo period (1603-1868). In Nikko National Park, you can enjoy the beauty of nature such as Lake Chuzenji, Senjogahara and Kegon Falls.
More Destinations
- Kamakura
- Kamakura, located in the southern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, is accessible by direct trains in one hour from Tokyo. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the ocean on the other, you can enjoy both mountain and ocean activities. There are many temples and shrines in Kamakura, and you will be amazed at the size of the Great Buddha in Kotoku-in Temple. You can also see cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, bamboo, and other seasonal plants unique to Japan.
- Kusatsu
- Three and a half hours by limited express train from Tokyo, located in the mountains of western Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu is famous for its hot springs, which boast the largest natural flow of water in Japan. The strongly acidic water reduces the bacteria on the surface of the skin in just 10 minutes of soaking, making it a highly effective cleansing hot spring for the skin. Yubatake, located in the center of this hot spring town, is the symbol of Kusatsu. Don’t forget, in the wintertime, you can also enjoy sports such as skiing and snowboarding!
- Kawagoe
- Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture is known as "Little Edo" for its rows of warehouses built by merchants in the Edo period (1603-1868), reminiscent of Edo. In October, a traditional festival called "Kawagoe Festival" is held in the city, where musical accompaniment is played on floats as they parade through the streets.
- Yokohama
- Yokohama, the second-most populous city in Japan, is only a 30-minute train ride from the center of Tokyo. Its night view, created by shopping malls, amusement parks, and skyscrapers, is one of the most beautiful night views in Japan. With its history as one of Japan's leading trading cities, Yokohama is a city where Japanese, Chinese and Western traditions blend together.
- Oarai & Hitachinaka
- Located on the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, Oarai and Hitachinaka offer fresh seafood. At Hitachinaka Seaside Park, you can enjoy the seasonal flowers that cover the entire area. The Nemophila in spring and the Kochia in autumn are truly spectacular landscapes.
- Shibuya
- Shibuya, the center of trends in Japan, is known as the "City of Youth”. The scramble crossing right in front of you as you exit Shibuya station is the busiest intersection in the world. When the light turns green, you will be amazed at the number of people crossing the intersection at once. There are also various stores selling fashion, daily necessities, and miscellaneous goods, and you can buy all kinds of trendy Japanese items when you come to Shibuya.