Spanning the Tokyo metropolitan area and six other prefectures in eastern Honshu (Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, Gunma, and Ibaraki), the Kantō region is, in many ways, Japan’s heartland. It’s where the modern Japanese nation emerged, through the city of Edo (that became Tokyo), and where Japan became the industrialized powerhouse it is today. Although there are fewer historical and cultural attractions here than in rival region Kansai (largely because Tokyo was so heavily bombed in World War II), Kantō more than makes up for this in the richness of its modern attractions. You’ll never be short of things to do in Kantō.
Kantō can be a year-round destination because there’s so much to see and do here both indoors and outdoors. However, the climate for touring Kantō is generally most pleasant in spring (March–May) and fall (September–November). See cherry blossoms and other flowering trees in spring and vibrant fall foliage in autumn. Summers in Kantō are very hot, humid, and often wet. Winters are cold, and although it usually only snows once or twice a year in Tokyo or Yokohama, more snowfall can be expected in mountainous areas such as Nikko.
Kantō includes Tokyo, Yokohama, and six large prefectures, all of which are well-connected by train, subway, bus, and Shinkansen (bullet train). Generally speaking, the closer to Tokyo and Yokohama you are, the more transport options you’ll have. As you extend further into Kantō’s hinterland, you may need to combine train and bus services to get exactly where you need. Most travelers will find trains, including the subway systems, the easiest way of getting around.
While many travelers to Kantō will stick to the Tokyo and Yokohama region, this is a large geographic area, and it’s worth checking out some smaller historic towns. Kamakura, in Kanagawa Prefecture, and Nikko, in Tochigi Prefecture, are must-visit highlights that are easy to visit on a day trip from Tokyo. Lesser-known spots among international travelers include Saitama Prefecture’s Kawagoe, whose Edo-period buildings can be found on Kurazukuri Street, and the mountainous Chichibu region for hiking.
Kantō is a Japanese region that includes the capital, Tokyo, as well as the country’s second-largest city, Yokohama. Kantō is also known for being the most populated part of Japan, with around a third of the country’s residents living here.
...MoreKantō is a popular area because it contains Japan’s capital, Tokyo, plus some of the country’s top tourist attractions, including Nikko, Tokyo Disneyland, Kamakura, and Hakone.
...MoreNo, Kyoto is not in Kantō. Kyoto is in Japan’s Kansai region. Kantō is in eastern Honshu, while Kyoto is in western Honshu.
...MoreKantō translates “east of the border” in Japanese. Its meaning can be traced to Japan’s feudal days when present-day Tokyo and Kyoto were connected by the Tōkaidō Road. The town of Hakone was an important post station on the highway, and Kantō referred to the area east of this border.
...MoreJapan’s Kansai and Kantō regions have many cultural, culinary, historical, linguistic, and geographical differences. Home to the capital city of Tokyo, Kantō is the country’s current administrative and economic center. Kansai, on the other hand, contains many historical and cultural treasures, including the cities of Kyoto and Nara.
...MoreJapan’s Kantō region is unique because it’s the most populated, urbanized, and industrialized part of the country, with the country’s two largest cities—Tokyo and Yokohama—located within the region. It’s also a historically important part of the country and is considered the birthplace of modern Japan.
...MoreNumber of Attractions | 121 |
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Number of Tours | 989 |
Number of Reviews | 26,389 |
Currency | JPY |
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