Introducing Kanagawa Prefecture’s Instagram-Worthy Photos
In the Yokohama area of Kanagawa Prefecture, you can enjoy gourmet food in the exotic Yokohama Chinatown or visit stylish shops and cafes in the historic Red Brick Warehouse. For those looking to escape the city’s hustle and bustle, the serene Japanese garden of Sankeien or the lively Kawasaki Daishi Temple are recommended spots.
If you venture further, you’ll find journeys filled with historical romance. In Kamakura, once the center of the Kamakura Shogunate, you can feel the ancient capital’s charm as you visit historic buildings and temples such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Great Buddha of Kotoku-in. Odawara Castle, which tells the dramatic history of the Sengoku period, boasts impressive stone walls and panoramic views from its keep.
Additionally, Hakone, famous for its hot springs, offers rejuvenating experiences with views of majestic Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi and visits to nature-rich museums.
Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama Chinatown, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, is located in Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City. Over 500 stores are packed into an area of about 0.2 square kilometers, offering a variety of Chinese cuisines such as Cantonese, Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan. The main gate, Zenrinmon, stands 15 meters tall and is adorned in bright red and gold.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 1-minute walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station
Sankeien
Sankeien is a vast Japanese garden in Yokohama City, opened in 1906. Covering approximately 17.5 hectares, it features 17 historically significant Japanese buildings relocated from Kyoto and Kamakura. The garden offers various seasonal flowers, including spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, allowing visitors to experience the old capital’s atmosphere in Yokohama.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 27-minute walk from Yamate Station
Yokosuka
Yokosuka, known as a naval port where the American Navy’s Perry fleet landed about 160 years ago, currently houses the U.S. Navy base at Yokosuka Main Port and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force headquarters at Nagura Port. The “YOKOSUKA Naval Port Tour” cruise allows visitors to see American and Japanese warships up close.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 5-minute walk from Shioiri Station
Sarushima
Accessible by regular service from Yokosuka, Sarushima is an uninhabited island about 1.6 km in circumference. It is popular for swimming, barbecuing, and fishing in the summer. The island, once home to naval batteries, now features photogenic ruins such as tunnels and barracks.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: Regular ferry from Mikasa ▶Operating days
Jogashima
Jogashima, at the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula, covers about 0.99 square kilometers with a circumference of about 4 kilometers. Known for its cliffs formed by marine erosion, it has been a scenic spot since the Kamakura period. The island’s historical significance spans fishing, military, transportation, and literature. Accessible by bus or ferry from Misaki Port, highlights include Jogashima Park, Jogashima Lighthouse, and Uma no Se Domon. Renting a bicycle to explore the island is also enjoyable.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 35-minute bus ride from Misakiguchi Station
Kawasaki Daishi
Kawasaki Daishi, located in Kawasaki City, is one of Japan’s most visited temples, following Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine and Chiba’s Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. Officially called Heikenji, it is believed to grant blessings for various wishes, including warding off evil, family safety, traffic safety, and longevity. Known as the origin of Hatsumode (New Year’s shrine visit) in Japan, Kawasaki Daishi became popular nationwide through railway company and media promotions.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 8-minute walk from Kawasaki Daishi Station
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, originally used as a warehouse, has been repurposed as a shopping mall. Built from the late Meiji to early Taisho period as a customs warehouse, it was transformed into a commercial facility in 2002. The building retains features from over 100 years ago, including brickwork, fire doors, and stairwells.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 6-minute walk from Unga Park Station
Misaki Morning Market
Misaki Morning Market is held every Sunday from 5 a.m., offering a variety of fresh tuna, seafood, and seasonal local vegetables. It is popular among tourists for enjoying local gourmet foods. In addition to being a tourist market, Misaki Morning Market functions as a daily market for local residents, playing an essential role in supporting the community’s culture and food life. “Urari Marche” is recommended on days other than Sunday.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: Every Sunday from 5:00 a.m.
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 15-minute bus ride from Misakiguchi Station
Kamakura
Kamakura, once the center of the Kamakura Shogunate, is associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo. Historic temples and shrines, including Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, Meigetsuin (Hydrangea Temple), Engakuji, Hasedera, Hokokuji, Gokurakuji, Kenchoji, and Jochiji, are scattered throughout the area. Nearby Inamuragasaki Onsen offers a large bathhouse with ocean views.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: Kamakura Station
Kamakura Daibutsu
The Great Buddha of Kotoku-in in Kamakura stands approximately 11.3 meters tall and weighs about 121 tons. Originally housed in a building, it now sits in the open due to earthquakes and tsunamis. Though smaller than the Great Buddha of Nara, it is precious for retaining its original form for over 770 years and holds significant importance in Japanese Buddhist art.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 8-minute walk from Hase Station
Enoshima
Enoshima, with convenient access from Tokyo and Yokohama, attracts over ten million visitors annually. The island covers 0.38 km², with a circumference of 4 km and a maximum elevation of about 60 meters. It boasts natural beauty and historical significance, with Benzaiten (deity of fortune and music) enshrined here. During the Edo period, “Enoshima pilgrimages” were popular. Attractions include an observation tower with scenic views, a tropical botanical garden, and nearby Katase Beach, a popular swimming spot.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 18-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station
Odawara Castle
Odawara Castle, renowned as an impregnable fortress, was the base of the Hojo clan. In the Edo period, parts of the castle were modernized, blending medieval and early modern castle features. The keep offers a 360-degree view of Odawara city, Sagami Bay, Hakone’s Komagatake, and Futago Mountain. The castle park houses the Tokiwagi Gate Samurai Museum, exhibiting armor and swords.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 9-minute walk from Odawara Station
Hakone Onsen
Hakone Onsen, one of Japan’s premier hot spring resorts, offers about 20 different types of springs. The surrounding area features the highland resort of Sengokuhara, located at an elevation of about 700 meters, and the Hakone Checkpoint, a historical site from the Edo period, blending nature and history into a captivating tourist destination.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Odakyu Line
Lake Ashi
Lake Ashi, located at an altitude of 724 meters, is a caldera lake formed about 3,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption. The lake’s prized smelt is highly valued and has been presented to the imperial family. Along the 19-kilometer circumference of the lake, historical sites, facilities, and eateries abound, offering stunning views of Mount Fuji from the Hakone Pirate Ship and Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 40-minute bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station
Owakudani
Owakudani, a crater formed by a volcanic eruption about 3,000 years ago, still emits white steam and the smell of hydrogen sulfide. Due to active volcanic activity, certain areas are off-limits, and those with health concerns (respiratory or heart problems) should exercise caution. Owakudani’s specialty is “black eggs,” boiled in the hot springs and believed to extend one’s life by seven years when eaten.
Instagram Worthiness:★★★★★
Photography Opportunity: All seasons
Location Information: ▶Map, Hours, Routes
Transportation Information: 35-minute bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station
