We recommend taking a day trip to Ashikaga Flower Park, which is located in Tochigi Prefecture! Here is a selection of sightseeing spots in Kanto where you can enjoy an extraordinary experience within a few hours from Tokyo.
Ashikaga Flower Park
Four large wisteria (three Noda kujaku wisteria and one double-flowered black dragon wisteria) and an 80-meter-long white wisteria tunnel are designated as natural treasures by Tochigi Prefecture. The “Fuji-no-Hana Monogatari (tale of wisteria flowers)” is held for a month from mid-April to mid-May, when the best viewing time is from mid-April to mid-May. Also, the illumination “Flower Garden of Light” held from late October has been selected as one of the three major illuminations in Japan by the Night View Convention Bureau.
👉Official site
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Nikko Toshogu Shrine was built in 1617 to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun. The shrine’s precincts are characterized by the use of paths and stairways that take advantage of the natural terrain, and the well-balanced arrangement of the shrine pavilions, which create a solemn religious space. The extreme colors of the buildings and lacquer, as well as the numerous carved pillars, represent forms of faith, learning, and thought.
👉Official Site
Senjogahara (Tochigi Prefecture)
The area was once a lake, which was transformed into a marshland, and boasts a vast area of 400 hectares. The marshland is home to as many as 350 species of native plants and is famous for its many species of wild birds, and is registered under the Ramsar Convention as a “wetland of international importance, especially as a habitat for waterfowl. A nature trail has been developed around the marshland, and there is a hiking course that can be completed in about two hours. The name “Akagi” comes from a myth that this area was the site of a battle between the gods of Mount Nantai and Mount Akagi over Lake Chuzenji.
👉Official SiteChiba Prefecture] Egawa Coast
Egawa Beach, located in the vast natural tideland “Banzu Tideland” remaining in Tokyo Bay, is a popular spot where visitors can enjoy egi-gari (egi-gari) and a spectacular view. It is easily accessible, about 5 km from the Kisarazu-Kanada IC of the Aqua-Line and 7 km from the Sodegaura IC of the Tateyama Expressway, and attracts many visitors during the ebb-fishing season, making it a popular spot from spring to summer. The scenery at dusk is beautiful, but at night, the Kimitsu Kyodo Power Plant and Nippon Steel Corporation line the coast across from Kisarazu Port, and the area is also known as a spot for night views of factories.
👉Official Site
Sawara, Chiba Prefecture
Sawara is called the “Little Edo of Hokuso. The main shrine of Katori Jingu, one of the oldest shrines in eastern Japan and the headquarters of the 400 or so Katori shrines in Japan, is located in Sawara, as well as along the Ono River, a tributary of the Tone River, which was selected as the first “Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” in the Kanto region.
👉Official Site
Sarushima Island
Sarushima is the only natural island in Tokyo Bay and the largest uninhabited island in the bay. The island was once a fortress island with gun batteries and ammunition depots as the key to protecting Tokyo Bay. Today, visitors can freely walk around the island and enjoy the unique scenery that is a fusion of the historical heritage left in its original form and the pristine nature. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as walking around the national historic site, BBQ, and playing on the shore. 10 minutes by boat from Yokosuka.
👉Official site
Saitama Prefecture】 Kawagoe
Located within 30 km of central Tokyo, Kawagoe is dotted with many sightseeing spots such as “Kura-zukuri no Machinami” ( the rows of warehouses), the symbol of Kawagoe “Toki no Kane” (the bell of time) that stands tall in the rows of warehouses, and “Kashiya Yokocho” where sweets stores that convey simple, old-fashioned taste are located. In 1999, it was selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
👉Official site
Saitama】Nagatoro
The entire town is designated as Nagatoro Tamayodo Nature Park, and both banks of Arakawa River running through the center of the park are surrounded by beautiful scenery and nature. In addition to the one-star Michelin Green Guide Japon Baotan Shrine, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, wax gourds, the seven herb temples in autumn, and colored leaves, the famous river rafting, hiking courses, water sports, and numerous interactive activities can be enjoyed all year round.
👉Official Website
Kiyosato Terrace
Located at the highest elevation in the Kiyosato area, the Sun Meadows Kiyosato Terrace is a relaxing space with a spectacular view that stretches to the highest summit area of Sun Meadows Kiyosato. While gazing at the spectacular view below, you can relax on the bed sofas scattered around the terrace or on the outdoor sofas on the observation deck, or take a stroll among the greenery and enjoy the sense of openness that only a mountain resort can offer.
👉Official website
Yamanashi] Hottarakashi Onsen
This natural hot spring is popular for its natural location, with a view overlooking Fuji and the Kofu Basin, and a night view that is said to have a starry sky as its ceiling. Fuji in front of the bathhouse. The new bathhouse “Koko no Yu” is twice as large as the one in Koko no Yu, and visitors can enjoy the night view of the Kofu Basin, one of the three major nightscapes in Japan, as well as the sunrise. After taking a bath, we recommend the famous gourmet “Ontama-age” (fried eggs).
👉Official Site