Kanagawa
From Wikitravel
Contents
Kanagawa prefecture (神奈川県 Kanagawa-ken; [1]) prefecture is located to the southwest of Tokyo in Japan.
[edit] Cities
- Kawasaki - Tokyo suburb with a few offbeat attractions, including the famous Iron Penis Shrine
- Yokohama - second-largest city in Japan
- Yokosuka - site of a large US naval base
- Enoshima - island of temples and surf city
- Kamakura - ancient capital home to many, many temples
- Kotsubo - small fishing village with views of Mount Fuji
Mountain and summer Ayu Festival
- Sagamihara - a large suburb near the American military base, Camp Zama
- Chigasaki - not so big city, nearby sea, famous for the artist "Southern allstars"
[edit] Other destinations
- Atsugi - hiking in the central part of Kanagawa
- Hakone - part of a large national park known for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji
[edit] Understand
Kanagawa prefecture has the second largest population in Japan and its economic activity is much the same as Korea.
[edit] Get in
[edit] Get around
[edit] By train
Around the Miura Peninsula, Keikyu has a practical monopoly on transport, with its trains and buses being cheaper and more extensive than JR. They offer one-day passes which are good deals if you want to explore the area (as well as Tokyo area passes for travelers from Yokohama). Inquire at Shinagawa or Yokohama station for details.
For Enoshima and Kamakura, JR Tokaido Line(東海道線), Yokosuka Line(横須賀線), and Shonan Shinjuku Line(湘南新宿ライン) is a convenient way. Narita Express Train has direct service to Ofuna Station, two stations from Kamakura Station.
[edit][add listing] See
- The temples of Kamakura
- The Miura Peninsula (三浦半島) extends like an appendage into Pacific, guarding the mouth of Tokyo Bay. While Yokosuka and Kamakura lie on either side of the base of the peninsula, the lower region has numerous small towns and beaches on the coastline. The long, curving Miura Beach (三浦海岸) on the southern edge is a popular resort spot, and the Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park (京急油壺マリンパーク)[2] on the west coast has the the usual attractions such as penguins and dolphins performing for spectators.
- Jōgashima (城ヶ島) is a small island lying just off the extremity of the Miura Peninsula, connected by a short bridge to the mainland. It offers a good day's worth of wading in tide pools full of marine life, relaxing on the beaches, and hiking on trails through heavy bamboo thickets. There are two lighthouses on the island and a park on the eastern side, from which you can see the southern Boso Peninsula in Chiba prefecture. The island has plenty of seafood restaurants and a resort hotel. To get to Jogashima, take the Keikyu Line (from Shinagawa via Yokohama) to the end of the line at Misakiguchi, then catch the #9 bus.
[edit][add listing] Do
Kanagawa has a great variety of outdoor activities available. Hiking, mountaineering, sea kayaking, rock climbing, para-gliding, and much more. Kanto Mountain Adventures[3] leads rock climbing, hiking trips, and more in the area for reasonable prices. There are many great hikes easily accessible by train, especially the Odakyu line.
Hiking is available around Honatsugi, Isehara, Shibusawa, and Hadano in the nearby Tanzawa Mountains. The Hakone Mountains also offers plenty of hiking oppurtunities.
Check out Yugawara for rock climbing and hiking. There is also a "famous" foot Onsen in Yugawara along with some shrines and temples. Another easy day hike is Mount Oyama, which can be accessed from Isehara Station on the Odakyu-Odawara Line. A bus runs from Isehara Station to the bottom of a cable car station next to the Oyama-dera Shrine. At the top of the cable car, the trail to the peak of the mountain starts, and takes approximately an hour and a half for the average hiker. At the summit, one can get a view of the coastal towns and ocean, the other Tanzawa Mountains, and Mt. Fuji on a good day. The Oyamaafuri Shrine is also located at the top.
If you like beaches, Enoshima is the most popular one, and gets very crowded in the summer time. Windsurfing is a popular activity there, as the waves are rarely big enough for regular surfing due to the surrounding landmass. The name Enoshima itself is the island right next to the beach connected by a 600 meter bridge. There is a tower at the top of the island, where you can get a view of Mt. Fuji, the ocean, Oshima, and the Shonan Coast (the stretch of beaches in Kanagawa). To the west of Enoshima across the Katase River is Chigasaki Beach, which is also very famous. It is not such a big beach, but you can relax there. There is a big symbol image, a "C" for chigasaki. It is good place to take a picture to make good memory. In August, they have a Fireworks Festival. It is so beautiful and you can enjoy it.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Shirasu (baby sardine) pizza（シラスピザ） at Enoshima Aquarium（えのすい）.
- Benten Pizza, 2-5-17 Enoshima, on the road to the cave. - The cafe has beautiful views and a relaxing atmosphere. In the evening it is possible to relax by candlelight and enjoy a beer or two.
- Enoden monaka （江ノ電モナカ）- A wafer cake filled with bean jam in the shape of the local Enoden train.
- Pigeon cookies（鳩サブレー）. These are regular plain cookies in the shape of a pigeon - not made from pigeon!
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Get out
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