Travel guides and hidden gems in the Kanto region of Japan
Tokyo & Around · The Hub
Mt. Fuji just beyond the western edge, Kamakura on the Pacific, Nikko in the mountains, Tokyo itself 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
Minami-Aoyama is a fashion district, and tucked along one of its side streets is Nicolai Bergmann NOMU, a cafe and flower shop run by the Danish florist Nicolai Bergmann. It is not only a place to grab a coffee. You…
If you’re a seafood lover looking for an authentic Japanese market experience near Tokyo, the Nakaminato Fish Market in Ibaraki Prefecture is an absolute must-visit. Especially vibrant in winter, this bustling portside market offers some of the freshest seafood you…
Step into the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo in Nakameguro, and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t your average coffee shop.It’s a four-story immersive coffee theme park where beans are roasted on-site, cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists, and artisanal Italian bread…
Just steps from the north exit of Kichijoji Station lies Harmonica Yokocho, a maze of narrow alleyways that feels like a step back in time. For travelers in Tokyo looking for an authentic, slightly gritty, and incredibly lively local experience,…
Kabukicho is the part of Tokyo most travel guides describe with one paragraph and a warning. I’ve walked it at every hour for years — for street photography, for late-night ramen runs after the last train, for the occasional batting…
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…
Tokyo switches its winter lights on in stages from late October, and by mid-November most of the city centre is lit. The displays are free, they run for months, and the good ones are walkable from a station — which…
Nikko Toshogu is a place that almost defies description. Tucked away in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, it’s a sprawling complex of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. But it’s more…
Eleven realistic day-trip ski areas from Tokyo, compared by rail access and station transfers — with 2026-27 dates and prices where published, and the shuttle-reservation rules that catch people out.
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