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Quick facts
- Region: Kanto
- Capital: Yokohama
- Population: 9.2 million
- Climate: Pacific side
- Cherry blossom (average): 24 March
- No. 1 in Japan: Three designated cities (Yokohama, Kawasaki, Sagamihara) — Yokohama is Japan's most populous city (around 3.8 million)
⭐ Top sights
Owakudani Volcanic Valley
Eggs boiled in sulphurous hot springs turn black; legend says each one adds seven years to your life.
Great Buddha of Kamakura
An 11 m, 121-ton bronze Buddha sitting outdoors since 1252. You can step inside it.
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
Compare famous ramen from all over Japan inside a recreated 1958 townscape — the world's first food theme park.
Stay at a Ryokan
Tatami rooms, yukata, hot springs and kaiseki served in your room. The world's oldest hotel is a ryokan in Yamanashi, founded in 705.
Odawara Castle
Seat of five generations of the Hojo clan. Surrendered to Hideyoshi's siege of Odawara
Hakone Onsen
Seventeen hot-spring areas, the "Hakone Seventeen". 90 minutes from Tokyo and 20 million visitors a year
🍲 Local food
Sanma-men, shirasu-don, Yokosuka navy curry
Sanma-men is soy-sauce ramen topped with thick vegetable gravy. Shonan's raw whitebait is in season from spring to autumn
🏮 Festivals & events
- Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival — Early July. Tanabata decorations up to 10 m tall adorn the shopping streets. One of Kanto's three great Tanabata festivals
🏨 Where to stay in Kanagawa
The area around Yokohama, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.
Other prefectures in the region
Ibaraki · Tochigi · Gunma · Saitama · Chiba · Tokyo · 47 prefectures
Frequently asked questions
What is Kanagawa famous for food-wise?
Kanagawa's best-known local dishes are Sanma-men, shirasu-don, Yokosuka navy curry. Sanma-men is soy-sauce ramen topped with thick vegetable gravy. Shonan's raw whitebait is in season from spring to autumn
What are the top sights in Kanagawa?
Top picks in Kanagawa include Owakudani Volcanic Valley, Great Buddha of Kamakura, Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, Stay at a Ryokan.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Kanagawa?
In Kanagawa (Yokohama), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 24 March, reaching full bloom about a week later.
