Kanagawa

Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県) serves as the vibrant southern anchor to the Greater Tokyo Area, stretching from the glittering skyscrapers of the Minato Mirai waterfront to the volcanic peaks of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Its capital, Yokohama, is Japan’s second-largest city and maintains a distinctively cosmopolitan air—a legacy of being one of the first ports to open to foreign trade in the mid-19th century. This international heritage is still palpable today, from the repurposed red-brick warehouses of the bay to the vibrant, lantern-lit streets of Japan’s largest Chinatown. Yokohama offers a sleek, breezy alternative to the capital, blending maritime history with a futuristic skyline that reflects beautifully across the harbor.

Beyond the city lights, the prefecture transitions into the historic and geological wonders of Kamakura and Hakone. Kamakura, the former seat of the shogunate, is a coastal town where ancient Zen temples and the iconic bronze Great Buddha sit nestled between forested hills and the Sagami Bay shoreline. It is a place where history feels tactile, yet the atmosphere is refreshed by a thriving surf culture. Further west, Hakone provides the ultimate mountain retreat, famous for its sulfuric “Owakudani” valley, therapeutic hot springs, and the chance to view Mount Fuji from the decks of a pirate ship on Lake Ashi. From high-speed urbanity to serene coastal retreats, Kanagawa acts as the essential relief valve for Tokyo, proving that escaping the crowds doesn’t require a long journey.