Kanagawa travel guides: Kamakura’s temples and hydrangeas, Hakone’s hot springs and museums, and coastal day trips an hour from Tokyo.
A pre-tsuyu, pre-crowd morning walk along the Shonan coast — Enoden trains, the small Koyurugi crossing, and Mt. Fuji from a beach almost no foreigner has heard of.
Introduction Kaikōzan Hasedera is an 8th-century Jōdo-sect temple on the wooded hillside above Hase Station in Kamakura, founded in 736 around an eleven-headed Kannon statue said to have washed ashore from Nara fifteen years after its twin was carved. The…
Kamakura, a coastal city just south of Tokyo, is a treasure trove of temples, shrines, and historical landmarks. Yet, few are as iconic or instantly recognizable as the Great Buddha (鎌倉大仏, Kamakura Daibutsu). Housed at Kotoku-in Temple, this colossal bronze…
As the sun casts long, golden shadows down the main approach, a quiet sense of reverence settles over Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. I made a point to visit early in the morning, a trick I’ve learned to appreciate the scale and serenity…
Shichirigahama, a coastal neighborhood in Kamakura, is not just for beach strolls and anime pilgrimages. For photographers, it offers some of the most breathtaking and distinctly Japanese views of Mt. Fuji. When the air is clear, especially during the cooler…
For fans of the iconic 90s anime Slam Dunk, the image is instantly recognizable: a small railway crossing, the green and yellow Enoden train gliding past, and the sparkling Shonan coast in the background. This is the Kamakura Koko-mae crossing,…
As the first golden light spills over Sagami Bay, the silhouette of Enoshima Island sharpens against an orange sky. Early morning surfers are already carving lines into the gentle waves, and the air is crisp with the scent of the…
Updated for the 2027 season Dreaming of seeing cherry blossoms in Japan but visiting before the main season in April? You’re in luck. Just an hour south of Tokyo, the Miura Kaigan Cherry Blossom Festival offers an early preview of…
Escape the crowds and discover one of Japan’s most breathtaking spring scenes. The Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival in Kanagawa offers a rare combination: the nation’s earliest blooming Kawazu cherry trees set against the iconic backdrop of a snow-capped Mount Fuji.…
Enoshima is often seen as a quick day trip from Tokyo, a place of shrines and sea views. But to truly experience its layered history and rugged natural beauty, you need to walk it. This guide focuses on exploring Enoshima…
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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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