Kantō region

城市概覽

In feudal times, Kanto was the home of the Tokugawa shogunate and Edo (modern Tokyo) the military seat of power, while the western region of Kansai represented commerce (Osaka) and culture (Kyoto). For much of Japanese history, nobody called Tokyo the capital of Japan, but the pendulum shifted decisively in Tokyo's favor after the 1868 Meiji Restoration when the Emperor moved to Tokyo, and today Kanto sets the pace that the rest of Japan tries to follow.

如何抵達

Most visitors arrive in the Kanto region via Tokyo, and most of those arrive via Narita Airport, Japan's main international gateway.

當地交通

Trains are the most efficient way to get around the Kanto region. All roads might not lead to Rome, but all railroads in Japan definitely lead to Tokyo.

必看景點

Castles

Edo Castle Odawara Castle Oshi Castle Utsunomiya Castle Tateyama Castle Kururi Castle

Castle Ruins Kanayama Castle Hachigata Castle Sakura Castle Mito Castle

Gardens

Kairakuen, one of the Top three gardens in the nation (Mito) Hitachi Seaside Park (Hitachinaka) Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (Tokyo) Rikugien Garden (Tokyo) Kiyosumi Garden (Tokyo) Seikeien Garden (Kumagaya) Tokumeien Garden (Takasaki) Sankeien Garden (Yokohama)

Museums Tokyo National Museum (Tokyo) Hakone Open-Air Museum (Hakone) Ghibli Museum (Mitaka) Yayoi Kusama Museum (Tokyo) Suntory Museum of Art (Tokyo) Sumida Hokusai Museum (Tokyo) Omiya Bonsai Art Museum (Saitama) Omiya Railway Museum (Saitama) National Museum of Western Art (Tokyo) Nezu Museum (Tokyo) Oya Museum (Utsunomiya) Cup Noodles Museum (Yokohama)

Temples

Kotokuin Home to the famous Kamakura Great Buddha (Kamakura) Hasedera (Kamakura) Naritasan (Narita) Nihonji Temple (Kyonan) Darumaji Temple (Takasaki) Oya Temple (Utsunomiya) Ushiku Daibutsu (Ushiku)

Shrines Toshogu Shrine (Nikko) Kashima Jingu (Kashima) Kasama Inari Shrine (Kasama) Meiji Jingu (Tokyo) Nezu Shrine (Tokyo)

美食

The Michelin Guide gave more stars to Kanto (Tokyo) dining establishments than any other city in Japan. Compared with their western cousins in Kansai, the people of Kanto prefer dark soy to light soy, thin buckwheat soba noodles to fat wheat udon and appreciate the taste of the odoriferous fermented soy bean product natto. Some Kanto specialities include:

Utsunomiya Gyoza (宇都宮餃子) - the gyoza capital of the nation, Utsunomiya has a wide variety of both restaurants and types of gyoza Monjayaki (もんじゃ焼き) - Worcestershire sauce-flavored dough, mix in whatever toppings you desire and baked. It's similar to okonomiyaki, but the dough doesn't harden completely, so you scoop out a little bit with a spatula and eat it. At most restaurants you cook it yourself (staff can probably help, as it requires knowing the proper technique), and it's traditionally eaten directly off the griddle, one small spatula-full at a time. Chankonabe (ちゃんこ鍋) - a protein-rich stew of chicken and beef with various vegetables in fish or chicken broth. Commonly as a sumo wrestler's diet. Sushi (寿司) - especially the Nigiri, originate from Edo, the Tokugawa Shogunate's former seat of power, now known as Tokyo. Most of Japan's finest and most exclusive sushi restaurants can be found in Tokyo, and this style of sushi is known as edomaezushi (江戸前寿司). Shoyu ramen (醬油ラーメン) - The variant of this dish from Tokyo uses a pork and soy sauce based broth.