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Planning a Trip to Japan?

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Go on a Day Trip and Visit 5 Picture-Worthy Spots in the Kanto Region

The Kanto region boasts of colorful and breathtaking sceneries.

If you are staying in Tokyo, here are suggested scenic spots in the Kanto area that you can visit on a day trip. All of these spots are recommended for photo lovers. Feel free to use these photo points as a reference too.

※【For Ticket Price Reference Purposes】In Japan, elementary school students are approximate 6-12 years old, junior high school students are 12-15 years old, high school students are 15-18 years old and university students are generally 18-22 years old.

(1) See the impressive fields of red kochia at the Hitachi Seaside Park (Ibaraki)

Hitachi Seaside Park captivates with its vibrant-colored flowers as far as the eye can see.

Hitachi Seaside Park covers an area of 215 hectares and boasts of a variety of flowers annually. Of all floras, the most popular is the Nemophila (baby blue eyes), which blooms on Miharashino Hill every year. (Pro tip: The best season is from mid-April to early May.) Around 5.3 million nemophila bloom like a blue carpet during the season. Its flowers are tiny, though, so you have to go close to take good photos!

A never-ending field of blue awaits tourists.

Additionally, the autumn colors of kochia (summer cypress) is a must see, where about 32,000 of these flowers bloom during the season. (The best time to see them is in mid-October.) The bright red, fluffy kochia are everywhere and the entire area looks like a scene straight from a movie. Whichever flowers you choose, it is best to shoot them from the ground with the blue sky in the background, and not only from the top of the hill. The park is vast, so we recommend renting a bicycle from the cycle center to get around the park!

Hitachi Seaside Park
Location：Onuma-aza 605-4, Mawatari, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki
Access: From Tokyo Station, take the JR Joban Line Limited Express to Katsuta Station in about 85 minutes. From bus station 2 outside the east exit of Katsuta Station, it takes approximately 15 minutes to arrive at Kaihin Koen West Exit via local bus.
Admission fee：
【Adults (15 years and older)】¥450 (individual), ¥290 (group)
【Silver (65 years and older)】¥210
【Junior high school students and younger】Free
*The park also has seasonal pricing, 2-day tickets, and annual admission passes.
Operating hours:
July 21 to August 31 - 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
September 1 to October 31 - 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
November 1 to end of February - 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March 1 to June 20 - 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed: Every Tuesday; December 31 and January 1; First Monday to Friday of February

(2) Marvel at the autumn colors in Nagatoro River, Chichibu (Saitama）

© Saitama Prefecture Trade & Tourism Association

Nagatoro is located in the Chichibu area and is known for the rapid Nagatoro River. It is a spot where superb views and outdoor activities can be enjoyed. Among these experiences is the Kawakudari (going down the river) trip on a wooden boat while listening to the boatman talk about Nagatoro's Iwadatami, a National Special Natural Monument. The Iwadatami is an unusual rock that looks like a raised crystal schist spreading out just like a tatami (Japanese mat).

The boats operate all year round, but we recommend going around mid-November during the autumn season. The autumn leaves that can be seen from the wooden boat are remarkable. For even more spectacular sights, try riding the Hodosan Ropeway.

Nagatoro's Iwadatami
Location：OazaNagatoro, Nagatoro-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama
Access: It takes about 80 minutes from Seibu Ikebukuro Line (Limited Express) to Seibu Chichibu Station. From there, transfer to Chichibu Railway (Ohanabatake Station) and travel for 20 minutes to Nagatoro Station.
※On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, there is also a direct train from Ikebukuro Station to Nagatoro Station.

(3) Feel the thrill at Hell Peek Point via Nokogiriyama Ropeway (Chiba)

Adventure-seekers will definitely thrill over this experience at Mt. Nokogiri.

Mt. Nokogiri, located on the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, stands at 329.4 meters tall, and the summit can be easily accessed by ropeway. When the weather is fine, Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Skytree® can be seen from the top, and viewing autumn leaves is highly recommended starting late November. If you walk a little further from the summit observatory, you will see Hell Peek Point on the rocky tract that sticks out of the cliff. Don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights!

Mt. Nokogiri was once a stone production area, and the ruins of the quarry have been left as vertical cliffs. The 30-meter-high Hyaku-Shaku Kannon carved into the rocky wall is also impressive and worth seeing. We recommend pointing your camera up at Hell Peek Point from the Hyaku-Shaku Kannon to take a picture.

Nokogiriyama Ropeway Sanroku Station
Location：Kanaya 4052-1, Futtsu-shi, Chiba (Sawzan Ropeway Sanroku Station)
Access: From Tokyo Station, take the JR Keiyo Line to Soga Station, change to the JR Uchibo Line at Soga Station and get off at Hamakanaya Station. About 8 minutes on foot to Nokogiriyama Ropeway Sanroku Station
Ropeway fee：
【12 years and above】（One Way）¥500（Round trip）¥950
【6 – 11 years old】（One Way）¥250（Round trip）¥450

Operating hours:
November 16 to February 15 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 16 to November 15 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During summer - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*Information as of August 2022

(4) Check out the stunning spring flowers and winter lights at the Ashikaga Flower Park（Tochigi）

©Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park is known for wisteria that is in full bloom from mid-April to mid-May. However, in winter, it’s also famous for its illuminations.
The event is held annually from late October to early February, and the wisteria shelf and flower tunnels are beautifully illuminated as well. In 2017, more than five million lights were put up in the park, and it was selected as one of the Three Major Illuminations in Japan. Another highlight to look forward to is the variety of illuminations with different themes like Christmas and New Year. If you take a photo looking up at the hanging shelf or the tunnel from the bottom, you can get a magical and impactful photo.

©Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park
Location：607 Hasama-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi
Access: From Tokyo Station, take the JR Utsunomiya Line to Oyama Station in about 80 minutes. Then transfer to the JR Ryomo Line at Oyama Station, and get off at Ashikaga Flower Park Station in about 35 minutes.
Admission fee：
【Beginning of March to mid-April】: (Adult) ¥300 - ¥1,200（4 years old - elementary school students) ¥200 - ¥600
【Mid-April to end of May】: (Adult) ¥900 - ¥1,800 (4 years old - elementary school students) ¥500 - ¥900
【End of May to end of June】: (Adult) ¥500 - ¥1,200（4 years old - elementary school students）¥300 – ¥700
【Beginning of July to end of February】(Adult）¥300 – ¥900（4 years old - elementary school students）¥100 ― ¥500
Operating hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ; Winter season: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Operating period: All year round
Closed: Third Wednesday and Thursday of February ; December 31
※Prices are subject to change depending on the time of year and the condition of the flowers.
*Information as of August 2022

(5) Experience a world of black & white at Onioshidashi Park（Gunma）

At Onioshidashi Park, paths are lined with piles of volcanic rocks and seasonal flowers in bloom.

Onioshidashi Park is located in Tsumagoi in Gunma, which is known as a production area for highland vegetables. It is also a spot where lava flowed during the 1783 giant eruption of Mt. Asama. There are various theories floating about, but it seems that it’s named Onioshidashi (pushing the demon out) because people say that at the time of the eruption, demons pushed the rocks out of the volcano crater. It's a sight to see the strange rocks made of lava in various shapes and sizes piled up alongside seasonal flowers fully blooming! You can also take a stroll while observing the luminous moss that appears lush from mid-May to late October, and alpine plants such as Japanese azaleas from early to late June. Autumn leaves from mid-September and the snow season of January are also perfect for photo shoots!

The contrast of white snow and strange black rocks creates a beautiful monochromatic world.

Onioshidashi Park
Location：1053 Kanbara, Tsumagoi-mura, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma
Access: From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station in about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Get on the bus, and arrive in about 40 minutes.
Entrance fee：(Adult) ¥650
Operating hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ntry until 4:30 p.m.)