Kanagawa travel guides: Kamakura’s temples and hydrangeas, Hakone’s hot springs and museums, and coastal day trips an hour from Tokyo.
In Hakone, a room with an open-air bath, a private bath you book, and an in-room tub are all sold as a private onsen, and some room baths are not hot-spring water at all. Seven inns compared on their official sites: which rooms have onsen water, which private baths are free, and how to book them.
In typical years Hakone's autumn colour runs from early November at Lake Ashi to early December in Hakone-Yumoto. This guide covers Weathernews' spot-by-spot 2026 forecasts, the Hakone Museum of Art's 30 October pre-opening, light-up status and what operators say about crowds.
Romancecar from Shinjuku or Shinkansen to Odawara, the Hakone loop ride by ride with 2026 fares, the Freepass break-even worked out, and the ropeway's winter 2026–27 closures.
Two of Kamakura's best luck shrines share one wooded valley: wash your money at Zeniarai Benten, then climb the 49 torii to Sasuke Inari. Hours, offerings, legends and the walk — all verified against shrine sources.
GREEN×EXPO 2027 opens 19 March 2027 at a Yokohama site with no station of its own. The four shuttle stations, ticket prices, the 18 September reservation date, and an honest go-wait-skip verdict.
A day-use hot spring in a 1938 building moved over the mountains, with Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi in the same view. Verified 2026 prices, the tattoo rule, and how to get there.
Current prices and hours for the Great Buddha, Hasedera, Hachimangu and the rest — plus the quiet streets between them and three walking routes I actually use.
Minatoan Konandai in Yokohama serves a roughly 1kg Fujisan-mori soba for the same price as a regular bowl. A 50-year chain with freshly cut noodles - menu, hours, access.
Calbee Kitchen Ebina SA is one of just 10 Calbee+ stores nationwide and the only one on the Tomei Expressway between Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. Fresh-fried Poteriko (the hot version of Jagariko, ¥340) and hot Pizza Potato (¥430) served 7:00-21:00 daily. Best Tue-Thu mid-morning.
At the InterContinental Yokohama Grand, the choice that matters is the side your room faces: City View for Cosmo Clock 21 and the skyline, Harbor View for the port and the Bay Bridge. I stayed one night in a city-view room in November 2023 and rode the wheel that evening; today a ride is ¥1,000, cash only.
Nearly every image on Hidden Japan Gems was photographed by me on a Sony α7 across five years of walking Japan; a few licensed photos fill the gaps. Please don't re-use my photos without permission — reach out if you'd like to.
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