2025 Minamiashigara Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

Among the mountains around Hakone, Mt. Kintoki is perhaps the most famous. It is said to be the birthplace of the Kintaro legend, and a large model axe is placed on the summit. It is also popular as a mountain for hiking, as it is very easy to climb and the scenery is beautiful. The soba noodles served at the mountain hut on the summit are famous, and some people climb the mountain just to eat them. It is also a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. #hiking #autumnleaves #Mt.Kintoki #Hakone

The temple complex was one of the most impressive we’ve seen in Japan. Daiyuzan Saijo-ji is obscurely located in the mountain forests of Odawara's Hakone so it’s a really amazing peaceful place to spend the afternoon. We hiked to the temple from Daiyuzan town and it is a bit of climb but we did take a nice rewarding soak at the onsen close by after and took the onsen bus back to the town. There’s also an option to take the public bus there and back. Although it is still frequented by devout worshipers from all across Japan, it remains one of the less talked about magnificent places in Kanagawa Prefecture. #givethanks #givethanks

#aprilblooms An ancient temple of the Soto sect on the slopes of Mt. Myojinga on Mt. Hakone Outer Ring. It was opened in the first year of Oei (1394) in the middle of the Muromachi period and has a history of about 600 years. It is a Soto sect temple with the second only to Eihei-ji Temple in Fukui Prefecture and Soji-ji Temple in Tsurumi, Yokohama City, and has more than 4,000 sects throughout the country. The founder is Ryoan Emyo Zenji, and the principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha. The temple is also known locally as "Doryo-san", but there is a legend that the monk Doyo, a disciple of Ryoan Keimei Zen Master, devoted himself to the construction of the temple, and after Ryoan Emei Zenji's death, he became a tengu and flew away, and since then it has been enshrined as the guardian deity of the temple. From. In this regard, huge iron clogs weighing 3.8 tons are dedicated to the precincts, large and small iron clogs, and Tengu fans.

#cherryblossom25 Spotted FULL BLOOM cherry blossoms on March 23rd in Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture! 🏞️✨ 📍 Location: Harukigoe Kōfukudō (春木径 幸福道) — right in front of the Fujifilm factory! Along the riverbanks, there are 171 cherry blossom trees in bloom 🌸🌸 The variety is called “Haruzakura” (春桜) — a locally cultivated species in Minamiashigara, with delicate white petals tinged with soft pink 💗 🌸 These trees bloom a week earlier than the popular Somei Yoshino, perfectly filling the gap between the fading of Kawazu sakura and the arrival of Tokyo’s main sakura season! ✨ As of the 23rd, the trees were in peak bloom and are expected to remain beautiful until early April! So if you missed the blossoms in Tokyo, this could be your perfect alternative cherry blossom escape 💫 📍 Address: Kanagawa Pref., Minamiashigara-shi, Nakanuma 124-3 🌸 春木径 幸福道 (Harukigoe Kōfukudō) #travel

#cherryblossom25 Harumeki-Sakura is an early-blooming cherry blossom variety celebrated for its sweet, intense fragrance and deep pink petals. Originating from Minamiashigara City in Kanagawa Prefecture, this unique sakura typically begins to bloom from late February to early March, signaling the early arrival of spring. Its distinct aroma and vibrant hue set it apart from more common varieties, making it a favorite among local residents and visitors alike, and a cherished symbol of renewal and the fleeting beauty of nature in Japan. 

Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is an oasis on the outskirts of the city, located not too rural but surprisingly close to the city (about an hour and a half by train to the city center). In June 2020, "Michi-no-Eki Ashigara Kintaro's Hometown" opened in Minamiashigara City. Kintaro is well known from nursery rhymes, but his hometown is actually Minamiashigara City. So, in honor of the strong and sturdy Kintaro, "Ashigara GOLDEN BOY" was born as a new character for the Minamiashigara brand, and various goods are being developed. Anyway, when it comes to roadside stations, local gourmet food comes to mind. "Furusato Gohan Shokudo" offers local menus that make full use of local ingredients, such as curry, tonkatsu, and oyakodon, using regional brand meats such as Ashigara beef, Sagami beef, Yamayuri pork, and delicious chicken. The most recommended dish is "Sagami beef" "Sea Urchin and Toro Beef Rice" The price is 3,580 yen (tax included), which is not cheap, but the melting roast beef of Sagami beef and the mellowness of the rich sea urchin create an exquisite harmony, and above all, the visual is amazing! The next recommendation is the "Toro Toro Bowl" (1,600 yen tax included), a 5-kind tuna assortment with three types of fatty tuna (negitoro, bintoro, and chutoro) sourced from Odawara Fishing Port, topped with lean and marinated tuna. The perfect way to finish off the meal is with dashi chazuke, topped with seafood broth. If you go a little further, you can also visit Odawara and Hakone, so it's definitely a good place to rest your legs. #0 Yen Travel January 2025 #Kanagawa Prefecture #Minamiashigara #Roadside Station #Local Gourmet

#Tokyo Attractions This mountain with an altitude of 3,298 meters not only has beautiful scenery, but also breeds rich alpine ecology, making it one of the must-visit natural scenic spots. The most striking thing about Yagura Mountain is its majestic and magnificent mountain and river scenery. Here, the mountains are continuous and overlapping, like towering ancient castles standing between heaven and earth. Being in it, tourists feel as if they are at the center of the creation of heaven and earth, and are shocked by the mountain scenery before them. Especially in the morning light or the evening sun, the scenery of mountains and rivers looks like a dream and unforgettable. Visitors strolling here can appreciate these rare and magical alpine vegetation up close and feel the magical power of nature.

In addition to the Haruki-kei and Yukise-michi cherry blossom viewing spot in Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, another classic spot is definitely Ichinoseki Harane (you can find Ichinoseki Harane on GPS), where you can see a large area of ​​dreamy cherry blossoms growing on the slope. Although the cherry blossoms have passed their full bloom stage, they are still about 70% in bloom. You can still go and enjoy them while the weather is good these few days. Photo taken on March 28 📍Ichino Weir Harane (Harumeki) #Sakura2024

Happiness Path in Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture. This year, the cherry blossoms in Tokyo did not bloom as scheduled, with most of them still in a dormant state, requiring about another week to bloom in succession🌸 Sharing a cherry blossom viewing spot in Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture, where the cherry blossoms have been in full bloom since the 20th, with the site still at 70-80% peak. The spring weather in Tokyo is misty and cool, so remember to bring an umbrella and wear extra clothes to keep warm🌸 📍Spring Wood Path・Happiness Path (Harumeki)

#Sakura2024 🌸Tokyo Cherry Blossom Status🌸 There are so many cherry blossoms here, and they are densely packed and lush. This is located in Kanagawa Ichino Weir Harane Spring Meki Sakura The location is far from downtown Tokyo. However, these two places are probably the most crowded cherry blossoms in Kanto. There are not many people on weekdays, so this weekend should be the best time to enjoy the flowers. However, it is recommended to go there in the morning. I came here in the afternoon and the flowers here could not get sunlight. You can go here first and then go to Haruki Path. I checked in here for a whole day.

Sakura Report 2024 24/03/2024 - FujiFilm-Mae, Kanagawa Since it rained almost all day in Tokyo today, I didn't get to explore the cherry blossoms anywhere, so I would like to recommend another place that you can still see, which is the cherry blossoms along the Kari River near FujiFilm-Mae Station, Kanagawa. If you have visited the cherry blossoms at Ichinoseki Harane that I reported yesterday, this place is not far away. The highlight here is the short cherry trees planted along both sides of the river, perfect for taking pictures with beautiful cherry blossoms. You can walk around and enjoy the view for about 1 km. Yesterday, I went there, it was probably past the peak season + today it was raining again. I think it's still beautiful enough to visit within 1-2 days. It takes about 2 hours by car from Tokyo. Directions From Shinjuku --> Take the Odakyu Line to Odawara Station --> Transfer to the Izuhakone Tetsudo-Daiyuzan Line --> Get off at Fuji Film-Mae Station --> Walk for about 300 meters. From Ichinoseki Harane --> Take the bus at the same stop as when you got off at Ichinoseki Harane and get off at Daiyuzan Station (about 10 minutes) --> Transfer to the Izuhakone Tetsudo-Daiyuzan Line --> Get off at Fuji Film-Mae Station (only 1 stop) --> Walk for about 300 meters. #Sakura2024

Mid-March... The spring cherry blossoms🌸 on Haruki-kai and Shiawase-do have started to bloom early, so I went to see them~✨✨ It's a spot where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing with Mount Fuji occasionally peeking out while leisurely walking along the slowly flowing river📸✨✨ You can still catch the spring cherry blossoms🌸 The embankment is very wide, so it's recommended to go with your dog🐶✨ I was happy to pass by so many dogs~ [INFORMATION] Spring cherry blossoms🌸 on Haruki-kai and Shiawase-do 📮124-3 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 🚃5 minutes walk from "Fujifilm-mae Station" on the Izu Hakone Railway Daiyuzan Line #Beautiful cherry blossoms #Cherry blossom spots #Kanto sightseeing #Cherry blossom spots #Kanagawa sightseeing #Cherry blossom 2024

Sakura Report 2023 24/03/2024 - Ichinoseki Harane, Kanagawa The cherry blossoms in Tokyo are still nowhere in full bloom, so I had to take a train for almost 2 hours to come to Kanagawa to see the cherry blossoms at Ichinoseki Harane. There are 120 "Harumeki" cherry trees planted on the hillside here. They usually bloom beautifully around the 2nd-3rd week of March, but this year they are a bit late. They have only been in full bloom for a few days. The current situation is still about 80-90% beautiful. Even though it rained all day today, it was good that it didn't rain too hard. If anyone has a plan to come see it in the next 2-3 days, it should still be okay. Next weekend should be a good time in Tokyo. Those who come during that period until early April can wait to see beautiful cherry blossoms. How to get there: Take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku Station and get off at Shin-Matsuda Station, then take a bus from in front of the station (exit at the North Exit) for about 10 minutes, then walk to the park for about 1 km. (It is most convenient if you rent a car.) Note: There are 3 bus stops in front of the station. Get on the bus stop that you can see right away (I have attached a picture of the bus stop in the post). #Sakura2024

#springblossom Beautiful Strip of Cherry Blossom (Sakura) near Hakone. Due to the prolonged cold weather in Tokyo city, we weren’t able to see any cherry blossom yet despite its mid/end March so we had to venture out! This spot is an approx. 1.5 hr drive from Tokyo city and suggest to go earlier as it gets more crowded towards noon / afternoon time. The Sakura is almost towards the end now as it is white in colour and with partial withered. Have 5-6 parking spots only so might need to queue. Great spot for photos, dog walking and romantic stroll. Beware: the soil road is a bit dusty with rocks so be ready for a dirty pair of shoes after the visit.

This is a large temple in Minamiashigara City. There is also a bus so it is easily accessible. Recommended for those who like power spots.

You can drive past the souvenir shop and reach the bottom of the main reception desk. From the parking lot (250 spaces), take the gently sloping steps to the bottom of the Rurimon Gate. Climb the steep steps to enter the temple grounds, pass the main hall and Kaisan-do Hall, and head to the Tahoto Pagoda. After admiring Senshin Falls for a while, head back towards the main hall. Passing through the barrier gate while being glared at by the Tengu and crow statues, you climb the steep steps and finally come face to face with Wagogeta. #Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple #Wagogeta