When people think of Japanese castles, castles like Himeji spring to mind. Usually, these places are far from Tokyo, accessible by Shinkansen, and require an overnight stay. However, there are lovely, more accessible castles that are equally full of history and tradition. Located in Kanagawa, Odawara Castle and the nearby Hotoku Ninomiya Shrine are such…

One of the great places to visit in Japan is the Ikuta Ryokuchi Park (生田緑地), a hidden gem in Kawasaki (川崎). It is not just your ordinary park as it is one of the best places to enjoy nature due to its abundant forestry. Check out this park and its different features below! Ikuta Ryokuchi…

Odawara is attracting more visitors by re-opening Odawara Castle which recently renovated its viewing room. Located in the southwest of Kanagawa prefecture, Odawara has been playing a vital role since the Sengoku era (1493-1590). Due to the unique geographic nature, it was valued as a fortress and a gateway to Kyoto, especially during the Edo…

Okinawa seems to be the pinnacle of the dream “island vacation” for Japanese and non-Japanese tourists alike. However, there are a series of small, relatively unknown islands off the coast of Shizuoka that could be your dream realized (and they aren’t the tourist trap like Okinawa is). Dynamic topography and unique in character, the Izu…

Are you interested in seeing traditional Japanese residences that existed more than 200 years ago? Why not visit the Japan Open Air Folk House Museum (Nihon Minka-en) in Kawasaki? It is an outdoor museum that showcases traditional Japanese houses that have been preserved over the years. It is also a sanctuary for folk materials and…

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. is a popular Japanese company known to produce monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG might have a bad name these days but it doesn’t stop the company from operating in many countries abroad. They even have a factory tour in their Kawasaki Plant where the company’s mascot known as Aji Panda guides visitors who…

Enoshima is a small island at the mouth of the Katase River in Kanagawa Prefecture. Nestled in place are caves called “Iwaya” which have been eroded by tides over thousands of years. It has quite a long history with its first ever recorded historical document in 552 AD. It then became a tourist spot for…

Kawasaki City, once known as the industrial centre of Japan associated with images of exhaust stacks spewing pollutant-filled gas and creating the dangerous smog that plagued Tokyo in the 1960’s, has in recent years been at the forefront of the promotion of clean energy and waste disposal. At the heart of this effort is the…

Sarushima, which means Monkey Island, is a small island at Yokosuka, Kanagawa. However, you may be disappointed by the lack of monkeys on the island. Originally named Toshima, the name of the island was changed to Sarushima after Nichiren was shipwrecked on this island and prayed for help which came in the form of a…

An amusement park popular for its Ferris-Wheel symbol is Sagamiko Resort “Pleasure Forest”. It is a park offering different zones for different interests in a setting blended with nature. There are a lot of attractions to try with an outdoor zone for camping and a hobby zone for cycling courses. There are four popular attractions…