Things to do in  Kanagawa Prefecture

The underground, mostly glass design of Hakone’s Pola Museum of Art was meant to blend into the surrounding national park landscape. It’s as much of a natural and architectural attraction as an artistic one. The museum houses around 10,000 items—including Western, Japanese, and East Asian art and artifacts—so it’s a fixture on Hakone’s impressive art circuit.

With Mt. Fuji as its dramatic backdrop, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is beautiful from all angles. Unlike some national parks that cover one distinct area, Fuji-Hakone-Izu includes a number of dispersed sites, so there are many ways to experience it. Some parts are popular day or overnight destinations from Tokyo, with ample opportunities for hiking, boat cruises, hot-spring bathing, and admiring the views.

Since the 13th century, the imposing yet peaceful Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Kamakura) has stood inside the Kotoku-in Temple complex in the seaside city of Kamakura. It’s the second-largest Buddha in Japan and a popular tourist attraction. Like Kyoto, Kamakura was not bombed in World War II, so it contains many ancient structures of immense cultural value, including the Daibutsu.

With a long history dating back to 1063, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura, and the spiritual and cultural heart of the city. Dedicated to Hachiman, the patron saint of samurais, the complex contains several shrines and museums, and is a popular venue for festivals, weddings, and other events.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum spans a 200-acre (80-hectare) site within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and is dotted with fascinating sculptures. When it opened in 1969, it was Japan’s first open-air museum; now its collection includes more than 1,000 sculptures, with about 120 on permanent display. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Constantin Brâncuși are among the works displayed.

Formed 3,000 years ago during the last eruption of Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi (Ashi-no-ko) is a scenic spot in Hakone National Park. Considered sacred by the Japanese, it is home to the famous Hakone Shrine, the town’s most famous Shinto shrine at the foot of Mt. Hakone. Visitors come to see the shrine, take a boat out on the lake, or enjoy the many hiking trails in the area.

Hakone’s Narukawa Art Museum is dedicated to the display of Japanese-style (Nihonga) painting, with over 4,000 pieces in its collection. Along with seeing these artistic treasures, it’s worth visiting to look out at Lake Ashinoko and the floating torii gate of Hakone Shrine on its shores. On a clear day, Mount Fuji rises into view.

The mid-15th century Odawara Castle is a well-preserved example of architecture from one of Japan's most turbulent periods. The white-walled, black-roofed landmark traded hands with several warring clans before being dismantled in 1870 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1923. Rebuilt in 1960, the modern grounds feature several intriguing attractions.

Experience the thrill of a cable car ride while taking in sweeping views of Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) and Lake Ashi (Ashi-no-ko) along the way, by riding the Hakone Ropeway. One of the most popular attractions in the Japanese resort town of Hakone, the Hakone Ropeway connects Sounzan Station with Togendai Station on the shore of Lake Ashi.

Japan's highest aerial tramway, the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway (Komagatake Ropeway Line) is a popular way to take in some of the most scenic vistas in Japan, including panoramic views of Japan's highest mountain, Mt. Fuji, on a clear day. The ropeway runs from the edge of Lake Ashi to the summit of Mt. Komagatake, carrying passengers 3,115 feet (950 meters) into the sky.

The elegant, minimalist Engaku-ji Temple is considered by some to be an almost-perfect example of Chinese–inspired Zen architecture. It was founded in 1282 and is now one of the most famous Zen Buddhist temples in Japan. Parts of the temple complex are classified as Japanese National Treasures. Located in Kamakura, which rivals Kyoto in its concentration of heritage buildings, Engaku-ji is a convenient place to visit on a day trip from Tokyo.

Doraemon is one of the most distinctive and beloved of Japanese manga characters: a blue robot cat who time travels back from the 22nd century. He was created in 1969 by manga artist Fujimoto Hiroshi, who used the pen name Fujiko Fujio. The museum named after him is a Doraemon-lover’s dream destination, and a fun activity for other travelers, too.

Hakone’s Little Prince Museum is a fun destination for kids and all fans of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic storybook from the 1940s. The museum includes a reproduction of a French village, gardens, and displays relating to the French author’s life and work, as well as a good French restaurant and a gift shop.

A feast for the eyes and taste buds, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is often called a ramen-themed amusement park. Experience what life was like in 1958—the year instant ramen was invented—with a stroll down a replica streetscape of downtown Tokyo. Here, you can dine at ramen shops or participate in a hands-on ramen-making class.

With steaming volcanic hot springs and sulfur fields, Owakudani can feel like it’s on a different planet, instead of near enough to Tokyo to make it a popular day or overnight trip. The volcanic area was created when Mt. Hakone erupted around 3,000 years ago. Ride the Hakone Ropeway cable car to the Owakudani stop and follow a short, easy walking trail to see hot pools and steam vents.