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KANAGAWA神奈川
20℃
Kanagawa Prefecture is located next to Tokyo, and boasts the second largest population in the country. Yokohama City and Kawasaki City are both close to the urban center and are filled with sophisticated areas and quiet residential spots. One appealing aspect of Kanagawa lies in its metropolitan culture that rests alongside areas rich in nature where you can spend some quiet time.
Bounteous mountains sprawl at the back of the old capital in Kamakura, and the ocean in Shonan is a surfer’s paradise. This is the place to be if you want to find a fancy café or participate in some event to enjoy a leisurely time. This is one of the reasons that the creative types in Tokyo seek out Kanagawa as a place to live.
If you really want to enjoy Kanagawa Prefecture, you can see the tourist sites, but why not take it easy and just enjoy a walk through its towns without any specific schedule? The people who choose to live here are those who enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city, but also revel in nature and living life at their own pace.
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- Spring: 5℃ to 18℃
- Raw shirasu (baby sardines)
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- Summer: 22℃ to 37℃
- Tamagawa Fireworks Festival, mantis shrimp, conger eels, Kamakura vegetables, Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
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- Autumn: 14℃ to 23℃
- Mackerel
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- Winter: 3℃ to 10℃
- Hakone Ekiden Marathon, Miura Japanese radish, namasu (fish and vegetables marinated in vinegar)
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- Yokohama
- This is the largest business and shopping district and prefectural capital of Kanagawa. It is home to areas popular as date spots such as the stylish Minato Mirai area by the ocean, Bashamichi, which has the feel of a foreign country, Yamashita Park, and the lively Chinatown.
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- Shonan and Enoshima
- This popular seaside area rests alongside Kamakura and is known as a surfing mecca. It has many beaches and is packed with swimmers in the summer months.
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- Hakone
- This is the inner hot-spring town of Kanagawa Prefecture. With an altitude of 1,400m focused around Ashinoko Lake, it is known as a summer resort to beat the heat.
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- Kamakura
- The old capital, which is the most famous spot in the Kanto area. Enveloped by the ocean and mountains, it has an atmosphere that you won’t find in Nara and Kyoto. It is home to the Great Buddha, which is the second largest in Japan, and the most popular tourist spot in the area.
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- Yokosuka
- This is a port town home to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is also famous for its delicious curry. The Yokosuka Museum of Art is a good spot to visit.
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- By car
- The roads in Kanagawa Prefecture are generally the same as in Tokyo. By car you can access any point in the prefecture; however, popular spots such as Kamakura, Shonan, and Hakone are often even more crowded than Tokyo.
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- By bus
- Buses are also the same as in Tokyo. Because they are divided by destination, you can conveniently choose a line based on where you want to go.
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- By train
- If you’re headed to Kamakura from Tokyo, you can take the express Shonan Shinjuku Line or the Romancecar express train. There are many lines and departures so you never have to worry about transportation.
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- By airplane
- There is no airport within Kanagawa Prefecture. The closest is Haneda Airport in Tokyo, and it takes about 1 hour by train to get to Yokohama.
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