Kanagawa Travel Guide

Kanagawa is one of the easiest Tokyo side-trip regions, with Yokohama city views, Kamakura temples, Hakone hot springs, Enoshima beaches, and Mt Fuji views on clear days.

By the Japan Travel Hub teamContains affiliate links

Quick facts

Best for: Tokyo side trips, temples, onsen, city views
Recommended stay: 1 to 3 days
Best season: Spring, autumn, and clear winter days
Main bases: Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone

Why visit Kanagawa

Kanagawa packs an unusual amount into a small prefecture immediately south of Tokyo. Yokohama is Japan’s second largest city and its waterfront is a genuine evening out rather than a viewpoint. Kamakura was the country’s political capital in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and keeps the temples and the great bronze Buddha from that period — our Kamakura day trip guide covers the route in detail. Enoshima is the small shrine island off the same coast, and Hakone is the hot spring and mountain area where people go to see Mount Fuji across a lake.

Getting to Kanagawa

Kanagawa is close enough to Tokyo that almost everything here works as a day trip without changing hotels, and the coastal Enoden line between Kamakura and Enoshima is part of the appeal rather than just transport. Hakone is the exception worth an overnight, both because the loop of ropeway, boat and mountain railway takes most of a day and because the ryokan are the point. Yokohama is close enough for dinner and back. See Getting Around Japan for the area passes that cover these routes.

Top Attractions in Kanagawa

Yokohama Minato Mirai

Minato Mirai is Yokohama's futuristic waterfront district, a walkable mix of harbor views, museums, shopping, and a landmark Ferris wheel that makes an easy half-day or full-day trip from central Tokyo.

Price Free to walk around the districtTime needed Half a day to a full day, depending on how many attractions you add

Kamakura Great Buddha

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, a large bronze Amida Buddha statue at Kotoku-in temple, is one of Japan's most recognizable landmarks and a straightforward add-on to any Kamakura day trip.

Price Paid. Temple grounds admission is yen 300 for adults and yen 150 for children; entering the inside of the…Time needed 45 minutes to 1 hour

Hakone

Hakone is a mountain hot spring resort area west of Tokyo, best known for onsen baths, volcanic scenery at Owakudani, and Mt Fuji views over Lake Ashi, all linked together by train, cable car, ropeway, and boat.

Price Paid. The Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku runs around yen 6,100 for 2 days and yen 6,500 for 3 days…Time needed A full day at minimum; an overnight stay lets you cover more ground without rushing

Enoshima

Enoshima is a small, bridge-connected island near Kamakura and Fujisawa with a shrine, sea caves, and an observation tower, making it a natural coastal add-on to a Kamakura day trip.

Price Free to walk onto the islandTime needed 3 to 4 hours for the main sights, more if you add the spa or a seafood meal

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Where to stay

Area	Notes
Yokohama	convenient for food, shopping, harbor views, and city hotels.
Kamakura or Enoshima	best for a slower temple, beach, and cafe stay.
Hakone	best for ryokan, onsen, and a more relaxed overnight trip.

Sample itinerary

Day 1: Yokohama Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and the waterfront.
Day 2: Kamakura temples, the Great Buddha, and Enoshima.
Day 3: Hakone loop, Lake Ashi, onsen, and Fuji views if the weather is clear.

Food to try

Yokohama Chinatown dishes
Fresh shirasu near Enoshima and Kamakura
Ryokan dinners and onsen town snacks in Hakone

Common questions

Which Kanagawa sights work as day trips from Tokyo?

Almost all of them. Yokohama, Kamakura and Enoshima are close enough to visit without changing hotels, and Yokohama is near enough for dinner and back.

Should you stay overnight in Hakone?

It is the one part of Kanagawa worth it. The loop of ropeway, boat and mountain railway takes most of a day, and the ryokan are the point.

What is the Enoden?

The coastal line between Kamakura and Enoshima. It is part of the appeal rather than just transport.

Why is Kamakura full of temples?

It was the political capital of the country in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and it keeps the temples and the great bronze Buddha from that period.