Kawasaki travel guide
Kawasaki Tourism | Kawasaki Guide
You're Going to Love Kawasaki
Nestled between Tokyo and Kyoto is Kawasaki, a relatively undiscovered gem in the collection of Japanese cities. Kawasaki is home to beautiful natural trails, revered Buddhist temples, and interesting cultural festivals. Visit in the spring and summer and you'll catch mesmerizing fireworks and outdoor celebrations.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Kawasaki
1. Shopping Galore
Foodies and shopaholics will not want to miss Lazona Kawasaki Plaza, a shopping center with over 300 local and international brands and a range of dining choices.
2. Visit the Parks
If the natural world is what you crave, don't miss visiting Kawasaki's own little edens, Ikuta Ryokuchi Park and Higashitakane Forestry Park.
3. Take in The Beautiful Temples
For a piece of tranquility coupled with history, make sure to visit the famed Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple and Ozenji Temple.
4. Foray into Yomiuri Land
Unleash your inner adrenaline junkie with a ride on the Bandit and the Loop Coaster Momonga at this amusement park.
5. Go Back in Time at the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum
Luckily, Kawasaki weather makes visiting traditional Japanese buildings and old eastern architecture easy to do.
What to do in Kawasaki
1. An Amusing Time Out
Scream your head off on the sheer drops, deadly twists and heartstopping turns of the legendary Bandit rollercoaster, which travels at a top speed of 70 miles per hour. Through a forest. Yes, it's just you and 50 other screaming riders. If you haven't had enough, check out the bungee jump station and leap 7 stories - that's 72 feet! - to your certain adrenaline rush. The Yomiuri adventure park also features tons of other great opportunities, including a stunning gondola ride to view the magical cherry blossoms below, an interactive laser obstacle/escape room, a massive Ferris wheel with generous views of the distant, looming Mt. Fuji and a splash park called "Pool WAI" that's open in the summer.
2. The Tranquility Of Buddhism In The City
Shingon Buddhism is a last surviving but major sect of the practice of Buddhism of Vajrayana lineages, which was spread by traveling monks from India and China. The Kawasaki Daishi Temple is its main "headquarters", if you will, and was founded for the Chizan sect in 1128. If it seems rather sturdy for its age, take note: the original temple was destroyed in the Second World War but was rebuilt in 1958 and restored to its Heian Period style of architecture. Besides the stunning main gate, take in the Hakkaku Gojunoto, a five-storey pagoda, and the small Sutra Hall, containing 1,700 volumes of hand-printed Buddhist sutras and Chinese-style paintings on its ceilings, like its Roman Catholic cathedral counterparts.
3. 3 Levels Of Shopping
The stunning roof and semi-circular platform design is not the only thing that makes Lazona Kawasaki Plaza a must-see. Whether you're a shopaholic or simply an architecture buff, this shopping center is home to more than just sales. It's surrounded by beautiful glass buildings and its open-air center is the perfect place for musicals, concerts and more.
4. The Way We Were
Wandering the lanes of the perfectly preserved Japanese village of Nihon Minka-en, you'll think you've been whisked back in time to a simpler age. A collection of 20 traditional farm houses, or "minka", as they're known locally, these thatched roof houses, with their simple bamboo, paper and wood interiors and sliding doors, will put you in mind of all the Japanese samurai movies you've ever viewed. Besides the watermill and boat house, there is also a traditional kabuki theater. Close your eyes and be transported.
5. A View Of The Stars
Though Nihon Minka-en is itself located in the Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, there is another reason to visit this tranquil green space. The park is home to a viewing platform or observatory deck atop Mt. Masugata. Here is the Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum, which has its own planetarium, multiple interactive exhibits and telescopes. All those who visit in the evening can enjoy a view of the stars from the Land of the Rising Sun.
1. An Amusing Time Out
Scream your head off on the sheer drops, deadly twists and heartstopping turns of the legendary Bandit rollercoaster, which travels at a top speed of 70 miles per hour. Through a forest. Yes, it's just you and 50 other screaming riders. If you haven't had enough, check out the bungee jump station and leap 7 stories - that's 72 feet! - to your certain adrenaline rush. The Yomiuri adventure park also features tons of other great opportunities, including a stunning gondola ride to view the magical cherry blossoms below, an interactive laser obstacle/escape room, a massive Ferris wheel with generous views of the distant, looming Mt. Fuji and a splash park called "Pool WAI" that's open in the summer.
2. The Tranquility Of Buddhism In The City
Shingon Buddhism is a last surviving but major sect of the practice of Buddhism of Vajrayana lineages, which was spread by traveling monks from India and China. The Kawasaki Daishi Temple is its main "headquarters", if you will, and was founded for the Chizan sect in 1128. If it seems rather sturdy for its age, take note: the original temple was destroyed in the Second World War but was rebuilt in 1958 and restored to its Heian Period style of architecture. Besides the stunning main gate, take in the Hakkaku Gojunoto, a five-storey pagoda, and the small Sutra Hall, containing 1,700 volumes of hand-printed Buddhist sutras and Chinese-style paintings on its ceilings, like its Roman Catholic cathedral counterparts.
3. 3 Levels Of Shopping
The stunning roof and semi-circular platform design is not the only thing that makes Lazona Kawasaki Plaza a must-see. Whether you're a shopaholic or simply an architecture buff, this shopping center is home to more than just sales. It's surrounded by beautiful glass buildings and its open-air center is the perfect place for musicals, concerts and more.
4. The Way We Were
Wandering the lanes of the perfectly preserved Japanese village of Nihon Minka-en, you'll think you've been whisked back in time to a simpler age. A collection of 20 traditional farm houses, or "minka", as they're known locally, these thatched roof houses, with their simple bamboo, paper and wood interiors and sliding doors, will put you in mind of all the Japanese samurai movies you've ever viewed. Besides the watermill and boat house, there is also a traditional kabuki theater. Close your eyes and be transported.
5. A View Of The Stars
Though Nihon Minka-en is itself located in the Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, there is another reason to visit this tranquil green space. The park is home to a viewing platform or observatory deck atop Mt. Masugata. Here is the Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum, which has its own planetarium, multiple interactive exhibits and telescopes. All those who visit in the evening can enjoy a view of the stars from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Where to Eat in Kawasaki
Whether you're passing through or staying a while, there are plenty of great places to eat. Stop by the Toritei, east of Kawasaki Station, for juicy yakitori skewers starting at ¥3,000 for two.
When to visit Kawasaki
Kawasaki enjoys a mild and temperate climate year round. Because of this, the city experiences quite a bit of rainfall, even in the driest months.
How to Get to Kawasaki
Plane
The closest airport that services Kawasaki is Narita Airport (NRT). To get to the city center, take the Narita Express to Tokyo and transfer to the Tokaido line. Tickets cost ¥3,280.
Train
There are multiple lines that run in to Kawasaki. Hop on the Tokaido line, the Keihin-Tohoku line or the Nambu line if you`re coming in from Tokyo. Fares cost ¥290-620.
Car
Route 15, known as Daiichi Keihin, and Route 1, called Daini-Keihin, feed into Kawasaki via the Metropolitan Expressway.
Bus
Willer Express overnight buses come in from various other cities like Nagano and Tokyo for fares starting at ¥1000.
Airlines serving Kawasaki
Where to stay in Kawasaki
Noborito - enjoy the Taro Museum of Art and the Nihon Minka-en folk village in this neighborhoood.
Popular Neighborhoods in Kawasaki
Yurigaoka - this is a mostly residential neighborhood in Kawasaki, though visitors frequently stay here and commute to the city center.
Saiwai-ku - this ward is home to attractions like the Toshiba Science Museum and Yumemigasaki Zoological Park. Don`t miss the cherry blossoms at the beginning of spring.
Where to stay in popular areas of Kawasaki
Most booked hotels in Kawasaki
How to Get Around Kawasaki
Public Transportation
To get around the city you can walk or take the Keikyū Daishi Line for ¥230.
Taxi
Taxis in Kawasaki are easy to find and hail. Fares start at ¥765 and it costs ¥465 per mile after that.
Car
Nippon Rent-A-Car is Kawasaki's car rental facility of choice and you can find offices located between Kawasaki Station and Route 15 that will rent cars starting at ¥8,424
The Cost of Living in Kawasaki
Shopping Streets
The Kawasaki-Daishi station is connected to a large shopping arcade. There is also the Lazona Kawasaki Plaza in the Saiwai-ku ward that will keep you plenty busy.
Groceries and Other
A quart of milk costs ¥196 and a dozen eggs will run you around ¥260, which is comparable to Tokyo prices.