21 Popular Tourist Spots to Visit in Kanto

Since the Edo period, when Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo shogunate (a government headed by the shogun) in Edo, present-day Tokyo, Tokyo has flourished as the center of politics, culture, and the economy.
Before that, the Kamakura shogunate was established in Kamakura during the Kamakura period (1185–1333), but before and after that time, the capital was in Nara or Kyoto in the Kansai region, so the Kanto region developed more slowly.
However, during the Edo period, the area around Edo, now the Kanto region, gradually prospered as well.
Triggered by the Taisei Hokan, the return of political power from the shogunate to the emperor at the end of the Edo shogunate, the emperor and government moved from Kyoto to Edo in 1868, and the Tokugawa shogunate’s castle became the imperial palace.
At the same time, Edo was renamed Tokyo, and the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.
Although there are various theories about exactly when Tokyo became the capital, the most common view is that the capital was transferred in 1868.
Kanto has this kind of historical background, and in Kamakura and Tokyo, where shogunates were established, historic sites, streetscapes, shrines, and temples from those times still remain.
If you know the history introduced above, you will be able to appreciate Kanto’s historic architecture even more deeply.

Kanto has many urban areas and is home to many indoor attractions such as shopping facilities and theme parks, so you can enjoy visiting in any season.
Because of that, it’s best to choose your travel timing based on your preferences.
With many famous cherry blossom spots and autumn foliage spots, spring and fall are especially recommended sightseeing seasons.

Kanto has Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, and Ibaraki Airport, all of which operate international flights.
There are also Shinkansen stations in every prefecture except Ibaraki, making the region easy to access from both within Japan and overseas.

The main transportation options in Kanto are trains and buses.
In general, every prefecture has a well-developed public transportation system, so you should be able to sightsee without much inconvenience.
However, in some parts of Gunma, Tochigi, and Ibaraki, it can be difficult to get around using only public transportation, so renting a car or using taxis or sightseeing buses may make traveling easier.

Meiji Jingu was founded in 1920 as a shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
It consists of the Inner Garden, a pure and solemn area with the main shrine building and gardens, the Outer Garden, which includes the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery and a number of excellent sports facilities, and Meiji Kinenkan, a comprehensive wedding venue.
The artificial forest, created by planting about 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan, has grown into a lush woodland that feels hard to believe is in the middle of the city and is filled with a mystical atmosphere. It is also famous as a power spot.

A leading sightseeing landmark in Asakusa, Sensoji Temple welcomes over 30 million visitors a year. It is one of Tokyo’s representative temples and hosts a variety of annual events such as New Year’s visits and Setsubun.
Kaminarimon Gate, a symbol of Asakusa, is hung with a huge red lantern, with the gods of wind and thunder placed on either side.

Tokyo Skytree, located in Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo, is a broadcasting tower and tourist facility.
Along with Tokyo Tower, it is one of Tokyo’s landmarks and a popular sightseeing spot.
Standing 634 meters above the ground, Tokyo Skytree is certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower in the world. Its biggest highlight is the observation deck, which offers sweeping views over the Kanto Plain.

This aquarium makes the most of its outstanding location facing Sagami Bay and overlooking Mt. Fuji and Enoshima.
Its main theme is Sagami Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and the creatures that live there, with exhibits and shows based on that concept.
At the Dolphin Show Stadium, you can enjoy wonderful performances by dolphins and sea lions with the beautiful scenery of Enoshima and Mt. Fuji in the background.
You can also meet adorable marine animals such as dolphins, sea turtles, penguins, and seals.

Located near Lake Ashi, where scenic spots such as Owakudani and Togendai are scattered, Hakone Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Kanto and enshrines the deity Hakone Okami.
Its history goes back more than 1,260 years to the early Nara period, and it has long been deeply revered by many famous military leaders, including Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu, building its reputation over time.

A Japanese garden created by the businessman and man of letters Hara Sankei.
Within its vast 175,000-square-meter grounds, buildings including nationally designated Important Cultural Properties relocated from places such as Kyoto and Kamakura are skillfully arranged.
Various flowers bloom in the garden throughout the seasons, and events are held to celebrate them.

Kawagoe offers charming old streetscapes despite being only Approx. 1 hour from central Tokyo.
One of the city’s most iconic sightseeing landmarks is Toki no Kane.
Standing among a street lined with traditional warehouse-style buildings, it serves as a landmark with a particularly strong presence.
It is a three-story wooden bell tower with a height of Approx. 16 meters. The bell rings four times a day at 6am, 12pm, 3pm, and 6pm to mark the time.

Mitsumine Shrine is said to have been founded by Yamato Takeru no Mikoto to pray for peace in the land, and the shrine grounds feature a large statue of Yamato Takeru.
The wolf, considered the divine messenger of Mitsumine Shrine, is said to ward off various misfortunes, and wolves are depicted on charms and other items, making them rare and popular.

Shibazakura Hill in Hitsujiyama Park is located at the foot of Mt. Buko, the symbol of Chichibu, between Chichibu City and Yokoze Town.
It is one of Chichibu’s signature spring sightseeing spots, with the best viewing season from mid-April to early May.
The stunning gradient flower promenade is planted with colorful moss phlox like a carpet. The center forms a valley, so you can enjoy different views by looking out over the whole area from above or looking up from below using the natural slopes.

Kamogawa Sea World in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture, is an aquarium theme park themed around encounters with the world of the sea, and is home to about 11,000 marine animals and fish from around 800 species.
One of its most popular attractions is the dynamic performance by the king of the sea, the orca.
Held at the Ocean Stadium against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, the bold and graceful techniques performed by these huge animals, measuring as much as 5 meters in length, leave a powerful impression on visitors.

This large theme park, beloved for its slogan “The Kingdom of Dreams and Magic,” is Approx. 15 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
In addition to popular attractions such as Splash Mountain and It’s a Small World, you won’t want to miss the entertainment, including parades.
One must-see in particular is Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights, which draws you into a dream world with light and music.

Mother Farm boasts a vast site area of 250 hectares.
Here, many animals such as sheep, alpacas, capybaras, and ostriches welcome visitors.
In addition to simply seeing them, you can also enjoy experiences such as feeding animals, milking cows, and horseback riding, as well as shows such as the Great Sheep Parade, where a flock of about 150 sheep runs across the land (not held in July and August), and the Sheep Show, where you can watch sheep shearing up close.

Usually, when people think of famous waterfalls, they imagine looking up and feeling their dynamism.
But Fukiwaren Falls is a little different. It is a very rare spot where you can look down on the waterfall and feel the great power of nature.
With a drop of 7 meters and a width of Approx. 30 meters, it is also called the “Niagara of the East.”

Kusatsu Onsen is famous as one of Japan’s three most celebrated hot springs. It boasts the highest natural spring water output in Japan at over 32,300 liters per minute, and its highly acidic source water is also known for its strong sterilizing properties.
The hot spring town is lined with charming inns, and the surrounding area offers plenty of cafes serving dishes made with local specialties and nostalgic souvenirs, so take your time and enjoy exploring at your own pace.

Haruna Shrine stands on the southwestern foothills of Mt. Haruna.
It is said to have been founded in the 6th century. It is believed to bring blessings such as good fortune and business success, and in recent years it has become popular as a power spot for matchmaking.
Entering the grounds through the Zuijinmon Gate and walking up the approach, you pass impressive buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, statues of the Seven Lucky Gods, Gyosha Valley, a sacred training place for mountain ascetics, and Yatatesugi Cedar, where Takeda Shingen is said to have shot an arrow while praying for victory, before passing through Soryumon Gate and arriving at the shrine buildings.

A large park with an open area of Approx. 215 hectares.
In spring, you can see daffodils, tulips, and nemophila. In early summer, roses. In summer, zinnias and sunflowers. In fall, kochia and cosmos. In winter, ice tulips, offering seasonal flowers throughout the year.
In particular, the nemophila that bloom from mid-April to early May are highly praised for creating a stunning all-blue scene of flowers, sky, and sea.

Fukuroda Falls, one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s representative sightseeing spots, is located on the Taki River, a tributary of the Kuji River flowing through the Okukuji area.
This great waterfall, with a height of 120 meters and a width of 73 meters, is counted among Japan’s three most famous waterfalls alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture, and it has also been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls.
Because the water cascades down a large rock face in four stages, it is also called Yodo no Taki, meaning “the waterfall of four degrees,” and one theory says the name comes from the priest-poet Saigyo, who praised it by saying that you must visit once in each season to truly appreciate its beauty.

This garden was created by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth lord of the historic Mito domain.
Along with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama, it is counted as one of Japan’s three great gardens.
In early spring, Approx. 3,000 plum trees of around 100 varieties come into bloom. The Mito Plum Festival is held every year from mid-February to late March.

It is said that the lake took its original form Approx. 20,000 years ago when lava from the eruption of Mt. Nantai blocked a valley.
Located at an elevation of 1,269 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest lakes in Japan. From the peaceful lakeshore spreading at the foot of Mt. Nantai, you can enjoy seasonal scenery throughout the year. The azaleas in early summer and autumn foliage are especially beautiful.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate.
It is considered the highlight of a walk around the World Heritage site Shrines and Temples of Nikko, where you can see 55 lavishly decorated shrine buildings, including 8 National Treasures and 34 Important Cultural Properties.
There are many things to see, including Yomeimon Gate, also known as Higurashi no Mon, or the “Gate of the Setting Sun,” because the entire structure is covered with an extraordinary number of vividly colored carvings and is said to be captivating enough to look at all day without growing tired of it.

Nikko is home to many waterfalls, but Kegon Falls is perhaps the most famous of them all.
It is a magnificent waterfall where the waters of Lake Chuzenji plunge all at once down a cliff 97 meters high, allowing you to experience both the power of nature and its sculptural beauty.
From the observation platform, which you can reach by elevator near the basin of the falls, you can feel the roar of the waterfall and the spray up close.