Please check the official website for detailed event information.
Features of Kanagawa in August
August in Kanagawa Prefecture is characterized by the hot summer season, offering a wealth of natural tourist spots and cultural sites. The Shonan area, where the sea breeze is pleasant, and the mountainous areas of Hakone, which are popular for their coolness, are particularly favored.
Additionally, a variety of events and festivals are held, making it a very attractive season for tourists.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
Boating Experience at “Ashinoko” (Lake Ashi)
Located in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, the beautiful “Ashinoko” (Lake Ashi) offers a refreshing experience with rowboats or electric boats. The lakeside features promenades and viewpoints where you can relax and enjoy nature.
Strolling through the “Sengokuhara Shitsugen” (Sengokuhara Grasslands)
The expansive “Sengokuhara Shitsugen” (Sengokuhara Wetlands) is ideal for a stroll in August when the greenery is particularly beautiful. You can observe various seasonal plants and wild birds while walking through the wetlands.
Outdoor Activities at “Sagami-ko” (Lake Sagami)
Located in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, “Sagami-ko” (Lake Sagami) offers plenty of water activities and picnic spots. “Paddington Town” within the area is especially popular among families.
Visiting the Dam at “Miyagase-ko” (Lake Miyagase)
Situated in Aikoh-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture, “Miyagase-ko” (Lake Miyagase) allows you to feel the grandeur of a massive dam and enjoy the surrounding nature. It is a great spot for strolling and picnicking.
Historical and Cultural Spots
Visiting “Hakone Shrine”
Located in the mountains of Hakone, “Hakone Shrine” has been a place of worship for many years. The “Ashinoko Summer Festival Week” started to celebrate various rituals and features continuous festivals and fireworks, making it a popular event.
Bamboo Grove at “Hokokuji” Temple
Situated in Kamakura City, the bamboo grove at “Hokokuji” Temple offers a serene and beautiful environment, making you feel as if you are in another world. Walking through the bamboo grove in the hot month of August can feel refreshingly cool.
Hydrangeas at “Meigetsu-in” Temple
Also in Kamakura City, “Meigetsu-in” Temple is renowned for its hydrangeas. Although the hydrangea season ends in August, a quiet stroll through the temple grounds is still recommended.
Visiting Art Museums
You can enjoy art appreciation at places like the “Pola Museum of Art” and the “Hakone Glass no Mori Museum.” The “Pola Museum of Art,” in particular, displays around 10,000 works ranging from Impressionist to contemporary art, with seasonal exhibitions that are not to be missed.
Gourmet Spots in Kanagawa
Food Strolling in “Yokohama Chinatown”
“Yokohama Chinatown” is a spot where you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods such as pan-fried buns, meat buns, sesame balls, and almond tofu soft serve. The “Shanghai Shoronpo Specialty Shop Honten-kaku Shinkan” is famous for its pan-fried buns that often draw long lines.
Chilled Sweets
On a hot summer day, chilled sweets like the matcha ice cream from “Kamakura Chacha” or the gelato from “Gelateria Il Brigante” are perfect. At “Kamakura Chacha,” you can choose from five levels of matcha intensity according to your preference. The gelato from “Yokohama Ice Farm” is made from fresh milk sourced from a local farm in Yokohama City and has also obtained a halal certificate.
Café Hopping
Spending a leisurely time at unique cafés like the “Zou-no-hana Café” located within the spacious “Zou-no-hana Park” is also a great idea. The café is known for its cute “Zou-no-hana ice cream,” which is shaped like an elephant.
Enjoy your August visit to Kanagawa with these exciting activities and spots!
