Kanto is Japan's most populous region — and almost everyone arrives through Tokyo. But the seven prefectures around it stretch from Pacific surf coasts to volcanic mountains, from Edo-era warehouse towns like Kawagoe to UNESCO-listed shrines at Nikko, the temple-and-bamboo lanes of Kamakura, the sulphurous open-air baths of Kusatsu Onsen, the ferry ports of Oarai, and the famous nemophila-blue hills of Hitachi Seaside Park. The point of this page is what comes after Tokyo: six other prefectures, each with its own pull.
Prefectures
Seven prefectures circling Tokyo Bay and pushing up into the central mountains.
Tokyo Metropolis
Japan's capital — neighbourhoods stretching from Shibuya's neon to the temple lanes of Yanaka, plus sleepy islands a ferry ride south
Capital city and islands
- Shibuya & Shinjuku
- Asakusa & Yanaka
- Izu & Ogasawara islands
Kanagawa Prefecture
Yokohama's port-town energy, Kamakura's temples and beaches, Hakone's volcanic onsen ringing Mount Fuji
Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone
- Yokohama
- Kamakura
- Hakone
Chiba Prefecture
Tokyo's airport prefecture — but also surf beaches, working flower farms, the Boso Peninsula's cliffs and a quiet shrine country far from Disneyland
Surf, flowers, Disney
- Narita-san
- Boso Peninsula surf
- Mother Farm
Saitama Prefecture
The Edo-era warehouse town of Kawagoe, the rope bridges of Chichibu, and a steady commuter belt that hides genuine surprises
Kawagoe and Chichibu
- Kawagoe
- Chichibu
- Bonsai village
Tochigi Prefecture
Nikko's UNESCO-listed shrines, the cedar-lined road to Tosho-gu, and the strawberry farms and pottery towns most travellers never reach
Nikko shrines and forests
- Nikko
- Mashiko pottery
- Nasu highlands
Ibaraki Prefecture
The blue-flower hills of Hitachi Seaside Park, the ferry port of Oarai with its sea-buffeted torii, and a Pacific coast almost no foreign tourist visits
Flower fields and Pacific coast
- Hitachi Seaside Park
- Oarai
- Mount Tsukuba
Gunma Prefecture
The volcanic onsen heartland — Kusatsu's sulphur baths, Ikaho's stepped streets, Minakami's mountains and a snow-country of its own
Volcanic onsen towns
- Kusatsu Onsen
- Ikaho Onsen
- Mount Tanigawa
When to Visit
Kanto's lowlands are mild and four-seasoned; the mountain prefectures bring proper winter snow.
Springharu
Mar – May10–22°CHigh crowds
Springharu
- Cherry blossoms peak late March to early April in Tokyo
- Hitachi Seaside Park nemophila peak late April to early May
- Wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park late April
- Golden Week crowds last week of April
Summernatsu
Jun – Aug25–34°CModerate crowds
Summernatsu
- Rainy season through early July
- Hot and humid in Tokyo lowlands; mountain prefectures stay cooler
- Surf season on Chiba's Pacific coast
- Sumida and Kamakura fireworks festivals in late summer
Autumnaki
Sep – Nov10–24°CHigh crowds
Autumnaki
- Foliage peaks in Nikko mid-October to mid-November
- Kohia turns red at Hitachi Seaside Park late October
- Tokyo foliage runs late November into December
- Comfortable hiking around Hakone and Mount Mitake
Winterfuyu
Dec – Feb0–12°CLow crowds
Winterfuyu
- Tokyo dry and sunny — easy travel weather
- Heavy snow in Gunma's onsen towns and Tochigi's mountains
- Best Mount Fuji visibility from Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi
- Fewest tourists across the wider region
Suggested Itineraries
Three routes from a Tokyo-side weekend to a full Kanto loop.
FAQ
What prefectures make up the Kanto region?
Kanto consists of seven prefectures: Tokyo Metropolis, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma. Together they form Japan's most populous region and the country's political and economic heart.
Is Kanto the same as Tokyo?
No. Tokyo is one of Kanto's seven prefectures (technically a "metropolis"), but the region extends far beyond it — north into the volcanic mountains of Gunma and Tochigi, east to the Pacific surf coasts of Chiba and Ibaraki, and south to the temple town of Kamakura and the onsen of Hakone in Kanagawa.
How many days do you need to explore the Kanto region?
Three days covers central Tokyo plus one out-of-city day (Kamakura, Kawagoe, or Hakone). A week opens up Nikko, Kusatsu Onsen, and the Hitachi Seaside Park nemophila fields. Two weeks lets you reach the Boso Peninsula, the Izu Islands, and Gunma's deeper hot-spring valleys.
What is the best time of year to visit Kanto?
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kamakura, late April for nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park, and mid-November for Nikko's autumn foliage. Winter is dry and mild in Tokyo but cold and snowy in the mountain prefectures.
How do I get to Kanto from elsewhere in Japan?
Kanto is the country's transport hub: Haneda and Narita airports handle most international flights, and the shinkansen network radiates from Tokyo Station to every other major region in Japan. Within Kanto, the JR commuter rail and private lines reach almost everywhere within two hours of Tokyo.
What are Kanto's hidden gems?
Beyond the Tokyo-Kamakura-Nikko trail: Kusatsu Onsen's sulphurous yubatake in Gunma, Hitachi Seaside Park's flower hills in Ibaraki, the Boso Peninsula's quiet surf villages in Chiba, and the Edo-era warehouses of Kawagoe in Saitama. All are within 90 minutes of central Tokyo.
Is Kanto worth visiting in winter?
Yes — for two very different reasons. Tokyo and Kamakura are dry, mild, and uncrowded compared to peak seasons, with the year's clearest views of Mount Fuji. Meanwhile Gunma and Tochigi turn into a snow country, with onsen towns like Kusatsu and Minakami at their atmospheric best.