Japan Kanto

It is packed with vibrant neighborhoods with a unique cultural identity, technological charm, futuristic innovation, and sumo tournaments as well as breathtaking museums, culinary delights, great shopping, and lively nightlife. Japanese culture is renowned for its exceptional hospitality, and Tokyo is no exception. From the moment you arrive, the warm smiles of the Japanese people will welcome you.  Ready to start packing your bags? Here are a few of Tokyo’s must-sees.

Hakone is a town in Ashigarashimo District in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The economy of Hakone is strongly dominated by the tourist industry. Hakone is noted for its onsen hot spring resorts, which attract both Japanese and international visitors due to its proximity to the greater Tokyo metropolis and to Mount Fuji. Sights include the volcanically active Owakudani geysers and Hakone Shrine on the shore of the lake, as well as the Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands. In April the cherry blossoms (sakura) and in autumn the Miscanthus sinensis (susuki) are noted sights. Hakone also has a number of art museums, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum and Pola Museum of Art.

Yokohama is the largest city in Japan by population, and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kanto region of the main island of Honshu. Next to the waterfront Yamashita Park is the museum ship, Hikawa Maru, and the Yokohama Marine Tower, the tallest inland lighthouse in the world. Further inland lies Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world. The small but fashionable Motomachi shopping area leads up to Yamate, a 19C-20C Westerners' settlement overlooking the harbour, scattered with foreigners' mansions. Other attractions include parks, Ramen Noodles Museum, and historic landmarks.

Kamakura is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) south-south-west of Tokyo. Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the Kamakura Period. Kamakura was designated as a city on November 3, 1939. Kamakura has a beach which, in combination with its temples and proximity to Tokyo, makes it a popular tourist destination.

Kawasaki is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, located between Tokyo and Yokohama. The city is the home of Kawasaki Daishi, the second most visited temple in the Kanto region. It also boasts nearby open-air museums and a great park.

Kusatsu is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the most famous hot springs resorts in Japan. There are about 100 hot springs in Kusatsu and the water is sulfurous and acidic. The Yubatake, one of the biggest hot springs and the main attraction of the town, is located in the center of Kusatsu. Another attraction are the mountain flowers growing in and around the city. There are also a number of waterfalls and crater lakes in the vicinity. During the year there are a number of traditional festivals as well as a number of events. The Kusatsu international ski area on Mount Tengu and Mount Shirane is over 90 years old and is one of the main attractions of Kusatsu.

Nikko is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kanto region of Japan. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikko Tosho-gu) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byo Taiyu-in), and the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. Nikko is heavily dependent on tourism to its historical and scenic sites and hot spring resorts. Hydroelectric power production, food processing, and the metals industry remain important components of the economy.

Utsunomiya is the capital and most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kanto region of Japan. There are more than two hundred gyoza restaurants in the city. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that the area of Utsunomiya has been continuously settled since the Japanese Paleolithic period onwards, and numerous burial mounds from the Kofun period are found within its borders. Other attractions include a castle, a museum, and an ancient shrine.

Chiba is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Chiba City is one of the Kanto region's primary seaports, and is home to Chiba Port, as well as being decidedly residential. Chiba is famous for the Chiba Urban Monorail, the longest suspended monorail in the world. Some popular destinations in the city include: the Chiba Castle, Kasori Shell Midden, the largest shellmound in the world, Inage Beach, the first artificial beach in the nation which forms part of the longest artificial beach in Japan, and the Chiba City Zoological Park, popular on account of the standing red panda Futa.

Saitama is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Being in the Greater Tokyo Area and lying 15 - 30 kilometres north of central Tokyo, many of its residents commute into Tokyo. Its attractions include the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, the Omiya Bonsai Village, parks, and museums.

Odawara is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Besides Odawara Castle, Odawara is a major transit point for the Hakone hot springs resort area and the sightseeing locations of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Within the city itself, the Yugawara area is a well-known hot spring resort. Enoura, a coastal area of Odawara known for its pristine sea, has an abundance of kumamomi, a type of fish that prefers clear and clean water. Sea turtles are sometimes present there. Because of the clear water and plentiful undersea life, many people come to Enoura for scuba diving.