The Kanto region has a strong image of being urban, but did you know that it is actually dotted with tourist spots where you can experience the sea and mountains?

So, this time we will introduce six of the Kanto region's most recommended tourist spots, along with a detailed summary of their highlights and details.

Kanagawa Prefecture ~ Hakone ~

Hakone, located in Kanagawa Prefecture, is known as a resort area where you can see Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji was registered as a World Heritage Site in June 2013, and is one of Japan's leading tourist spots, attracting tourists from all over the world to see its beauty!

Hakone is dotted with viewpoints such as Mt. Kintoki, Otome Pass, Owakudani, Mt. Komagatake, and Lake Ashi, where you can enjoy Mt. Fuji along with the rich nature of the four seasons.

Aside from Mount Fuji, the area is also famous for the Hakone Old Highway, commonly known as "Hakone Hachiri," a road taken by travelers crossing Hakone.

The road is difficult to walk on due to its many slopes, and is said to be the most difficult road in the world. In the early Edo period, the road was paved with cobblestones as an official road for the shogunate.

On the roads that remain today, you can experience the atmosphere of those days with all five senses and get a glimpse into the feelings of the travelers who walked along them.

In addition, various seasonal events are held, such as the Lake Ashi Summer Festival in summer and the Daimyo Procession and Hakone Ekiden in winter, attracting many tourists.

Nagano Prefecture ~ Karuizawa ~

Karuizawa, surrounded by quiet, deep mountains, is a popular tourist spot that is not only home to many stylish cafes, churches, and hot springs in the midst of rich nature, but also offers active shopping opportunities.

Hotels and souvenir shops in Karuizawa are lined with local specialties and processed goods, and you can enjoy shopping and gourmet food to your heart's content, with miscellaneous goods and sweets available at the outlets.

The atmosphere of the church in Karuizawa is exceptional! Many couples hold their weddings there, but many tourists also visit to enjoy the seasonal events, such as "Summer Candle Night," "Autumn Leaves Illumination," and "Christmas Candle Night."

Karuizawa is a particularly recommended tourist spot for people who want to relax in nature or enjoy a meal surrounded by greenery.

Tochigi Prefecture - Nikko City -

When talking about recommended tourist spots in Nikko City, we can't help but mention Nikko Toshogu Shrine!

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a shrine that enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, as a god. It is also registered as a World Heritage Site, and the surrounding forest is lined with cedar trees that are over 360 years old.

You can see up close not only the work of master craftsmen gathered from all over the country, but also the delicate lacquer and brilliant colors applied to the buildings.

There are numerous carvings on the pillars and other structures, some even having dates engraved on them! The building retains the atmosphere of the time, and you'll want to think back to Japanese history.

Nikko also has a wide range of tourist attractions that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, such as Edo Wonderland, which recreates a town from the Edo period, the Nikko Monkey Troop Theater, where you can see adorable monkey performances, and Kegon Falls, one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls.

Gunma Prefecture ~ Kusatsu ~

When people think of Gunma Prefecture, many think of Kusatsu Onsen, and the prefecture is home to numerous hot springs and inns.

Kusatsu Onsen is known as the hot spring with the highest natural hot spring output in Japan, and is home to the Yubatake hot spring, where 4,000 liters of hot spring water gushes out every minute, as well as the Sainokawara Open-Air Bath, which has a huge open-air bath the size of 300 tatami mats, and the Shooting Gallery Mandarado.

What makes Kusatsu Onsen unique is that it's not just about soaking in the hot springs, but also the famous "Yumomi" demonstration, where hot water is sprayed up using a long board.

You can also experience Kusatsu's traditional hot spring therapy, known as "time bathing," where you bathe according to the bathmaster's commands. Kusatsu Onsen's idea of making bathing entertaining has many fans!

At night, the Yubatake area is lit up, so it's a great place to take a stroll or enjoy a foot bath. Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan's three most famous hot springs, is a great place to fully enjoy the atmosphere of a hot spring town.

Kanagawa Prefecture - Kamakura, Enoshima, Shonan -

Kanagawa Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and the most recommended tourist spot is undoubtedly the Shonan area.

Kamakura's Komachi-dori Shopping Street is home to a wide variety of local specialties and delicious foods, making it the perfect place for a foodie stroll! Shirasu donburi is especially famous, making it a Kanagawa food that everyone should try at least once.

There are also many historic temples around Kamakura. There is a wide variety of temples to choose from, including Hasedera Temple, where you can view hydrangeas, Kotokuin Temple, where you can enter the Great Buddha, and even temples where you can try out copying sutras and Zen meditation!

Just a short trip from Kamakura is Enoshima, a classic Shonan tourist spot. There's plenty to see, including stylish cafes, an aquarium, boat rides, gourmet food, and Enoshima Shrine.

We recommend taking the Shonan local train, the Enoshima Electric Railway, as it allows you to enjoy a leisurely view of the cityscape and scenery from Kamakura to Enoshima.

In areas other than Enoshima, the main tourist spots and activities include temples, food tours, and marine sports.

There aren't many spots suitable for children, so families with small children should plan their trip carefully!

Shizuoka Prefecture - Atami -

Atami, with its beautiful ocean, offers a wide range of activities such as surfing, snorkeling, and paragliding, and there are plenty of fields for everyone to enjoy, from beginners to advanced divers.

This would be the perfect tourist spot for travelers who say, "I love the sea!"

If you board the sightseeing boat "Sanremo," you will take a 30-minute tour of the Atami sea, where you can feed the seagulls that fly by and observe the fish swimming, allowing you to fully enjoy an extraordinary space.

Atami also has many hot spring facilities, so finding a place to stay that suits your tastes is part of the fun. Near the hotel, there are also tourist spots such as parks where you can enjoy nature, herb gardens, Atami Castle, and the Kaburenjo Theater, so it's recommended to spend your time relaxing at your own pace.

summary

In addition to tourist spots where you can experience the sea and mountains, the Kanto region is also dotted with historical buildings and famous places where you can experience Japanese culture.

All of the tourist spots introduced this time are representative of the Kanto region, so if there are any places you haven't been to yet, be sure to check them out!

This article has been partially re-edited by KARUTA from an article originally published on "Nihongo Biyori."
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