Travel guides and hidden gems in the Kanto region of Japan
Tokyo & Around · The Hub
Mt. Fuji on the western boundary, Kamakura on the Pacific, Nikko in the mountains, Tokyo Bay everywhere in between.
Kanto covers Tokyo and the six surrounding prefectures (Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma). Roughly a third of Japan’s population lives here. We mostly cover the edges — Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura, the Mt. Fuji approach — rather than central Tokyo’s already-saturated content.
October–December for clearest Mt. Fuji visibility. Late March for cherry blossom along the Meguro River. June for hydrangeas at Hasedera in Kamakura. February for plum blossoms at Mito.
Haneda Airport (HND) is the closest international airport; Narita (NRT) takes 60-90 min into central Tokyo. JR Pass covers Shinkansen access; Suica/Pasmo for trains and metros.
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All Kanto articles
As evening settles over Ogikubo, a bustling neighborhood in Tokyo’s Suginami ward, a bright yellow awning casts a warm, inviting glow onto the street. This is the home of Temomi Ramen Juhachiban Ogikubo, a beloved local institution that has been…
As the cherry blossom season approaches in Tokyo, many travelers dream of iconic but often crowded spots like Ueno or Yoyogi Park. But what if you could experience breathtaking sakura in a more relaxed, local atmosphere? This guide introduces you…
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…
In the heart of Kawagoe, a town affectionately known as “Little Edo,” lies a Starbucks unlike any other. Steps away from the iconic Toki no Kane (Bell of Time) tower, the Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori store masterfully blends the world’s…
While Nikko’s Toshogu Shrine is famously known as the grand mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a quieter but equally significant shrine lies hidden in the historic city of Kawagoe. The Senba Toshogu Shrine, counted as one of Japan’s three great Toshogu…
Step back in time in Kawagoe, a city affectionately known as “Little Edo,” and discover one of its most precious historical treasures: the Kawagoe Castle Honmaru Goten. As the only surviving palace building of its kind in eastern Japan, this…
Just 30 minutes from the bustle of central Tokyo, the city of Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture offers a journey back in time. Known affectionately as “Little Edo” (Koedo), its streets preserve the atmosphere of Japan’s feudal past, alongside architectural treasures…
Every March, the historic Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, Tokyo, fills with red-and-white daruma dolls for the Jindaiji Daruma Ichi. It’s one of Japan’s three biggest daruma markets, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors over two days. The temple town is…
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…
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