JAPAN – KANTO

KANTO (Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma)

OGASAWARA ISLANDS WHS
TOMIOKA SILK MILL AND RELATED SITES WHS
A historic sericulture and silk mill complex established in the late 19th and early 20th century in the early Meiji period in the Gunma prefecture, north-west of Tokyo. It consists of four sites that correspond to the different stages in the production of raw silk: a large mechanised raw silk reeling and spinning plant whose machinery and industrial expertise were imported from France; an experimental farm for production of cocoons; a school for the dissemination of sericulture knowledge; and a cold-storage facility for silkworm eggs. The site illustrates Japan’s desire to rapidly access the best mass production techniques, and became a decisive element in the renewal of sericulture and the Japanese silk industry in the last quarter of the 19th century. Tomioka Silk Mill and its related sites became the centre of innovation for the production of raw silk and marked Japan’s entry into the modern, industrialized era, making it the world’s leading exporter of raw silk, notably to Europe and the United States.

Day 4 Tue Nov 11
I arrived from Kyoto, did business and wondered over to the SAGO store.
YOKAHAMA
Sago Museum of Art. On the 6th floor, the subject Perfume Costumes, not of much interest to me. 1600Y, 1200Y reduced
ON Capsule Plus Yokohama. A beautiful hostel with several unusual rules. I booked and second night but couldn’t pay until check on the second day. Bedding is completely changed every day. One is supposed to move all your stuff to a second locker room with very narrow lockers (I left everything on my bed and asked the cleaning lady to not touch my bed. You can’t be in the hostel form 11-3. They give you pyjamas (and all the Japanese use them).

Day 5 Wed Nov 12
Yokohama Museum of Art. Only Gallery 9 was open. It had spectacular glass sculptures. Free
Nippon Maru is a Japanese museum ship and former training vessel. She is permanently docked in Yokohama harbor, in Nippon Maru Memorial Park. She was built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation in Kobe, and was launched on 27 January 1930 alongside her sister ship Kaiwo Maru. She was operated by the Tokyo Institute for Maritime Training to train officers for Japan’s merchant marine. At the beginning of World War II, her sailing rig was removed and she served as a training and postwar transport motorship. In 1952, her rig was reinstalled and she resumed her training voyages until she was replaced in September 1984 by her successor, also named Nippon Maru.
Nippon Maru measures 97 metres (318 ft) long, with a beam of 12.95 metres (42.5 ft) and a draft of 6.90 metres (22.6 ft). She is rigged as a four-masted barque, with 32 sails covering 2,397 square metres (25,800 sq ft), and two 600-horsepower diesel engines for auxiliary functions. During her career as a training ship, she was manned by a crew of 27 officers, 48 seamen, and 120 trainees.
Follow the programmed route and see virtually all of the boat. There are frequent signs and audio clips to augment the tour. 250Y reduced
Yokohama Port Museum. Established in 1857, when Yokahama had only 100 housesDescribes the first foreign contact, US Captain Perry with his 8 black warships in 1868. Three ports were opened in 1869, and two more were added in 1879. The 1923 earthquake destroyed most of the port. Japanese emigrated to the US, Hawaii, and South America from here. The 1945 US fire bombing killed 300,000 residents. 350Y reduced
Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama. 5 floors. See a movie of the assembly line, eat at the restaurant, have a cup of noodles for 500Y, see the history of the company with all the changes necessary to produce the products, and all the products and flavours produced. 550Y no reduction.
Japan Coast Guard Museum. Displays a North Korean boat smuggling drugs disguised as a fishing boat. It was fired on by the coast guard, sunk and brought up from the depths. There are many guns, weapons and personal artifacts shown. Free  
Customs Museum. See counterfeit products displayed side by side and guess which one is real. Many endangered animal products and drugs (methamphetamine from Mexico and Taiwan, metal detectors used to smuggle metals and the many exports from Japan. Very interesting. Free
Silk Museum. A great museum. The fibres are triangular and don’t reflect light to produce the sheen, don’t absorb water, don’t produce static electricity and hold all dyes. There are 1300 metres of fibre, o5 mm thick in each cocoon and the finest natural material made. The finest cloth is produced with threads using 30-50 fibres, and the least good with 100-200 fibres. A kimono needs 9000 cocoons, a simple blouse 415 and a scarf 110. Unfortunately, the history of silk was only in Japanese. See examples of many brilliant pieces. AT one time, silk was the major product exported through Yokohama. 700Y, 500 reduced;
Hotel New Grand. Built in 1927, and added on with the new wing. Elegant. Babe Ruth (1934) and General D MacArthur (1945) stayed here when it was the military command center of the US Army. The old part has great tiles, stone work and a coffered ceiling.
Hikawa Maru is a retired Japanese ocean liner that Yokohama Dock Company built for the NYK Line and launched in 1929. And she made her maiden voyage from Kobe to Seattle in 1930. Kobe to Seattle on 13 May 1930. and that was her regular route; She is permanently berthed as a museum ship at Yamashita Park.
Hikawa Maru was one of three Hikawa Maru-class motor ships, all named after major Shinto shrines. The Hikawa Shrine is in Saitama in central Honshu. Her two sister ships, both lost in the Second World War, were Heian Maru and Hie Maru.
She had a reputation for service that combined splendid food and beautiful art deco interiors, Charlie Chaplin travelled on her for part of the round the World tour that he made in 1932. In 1940–41, before Japan’s entry to the Second World War, hundreds of Jewish refugees from Nazi persecution fled to Canada and the United States via Japan, and many of them sailed on Hikawa Maru. In August 1940 a party of 82 German and Lithuanian Jews who had travelled via the USSR and Vladivostok reached Seattle on Hikawa Maru. Later, Rabbi Zerach Warhaftig and his family travelled east from Lithuania to Japan. They left Yokohama on Hikawa Maru on 5 June 1941 and landed in Vancouver.
In July 1941 the US and other countries retaliating against Japan’s invasion of French Indochina ordered the seizure of Japanese assets. However, the United States gave assurances that the liners would not be seized so Heian Maru and Hikawa Maru continued their regular service to US ports. In October 1941 Hikawa Maru became the last NYK ship to visit a US port before Japan and the US went to war. She brought US refugees to Seattle, and on her return voyage, she repatriated 400 Japanese nationals.
On 1 December 1941, a week before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, She was converted into a hospital ship, Three times Hikawa Maru survived being damaged by mines.
When Japan surrendered on 15 August Hikawa Maru was one of only two large Japanese passenger ships to have survived the war. 
She repatriated thousands of Japanese soldiers and civilians from the Pacific Islands, Korea, the Dutch East Indies and China until August 1946,
She was a cargo ship until 1953. In 1953 NYK had Hikawa Maru refitted as an ocean liner and returned her to her pre-war Yokohama – Seattle route until 1960. Her peacetime service on the route 1930–1941 and 1953–1960 totalled 238 voyages and 25,000 passengers.
In 1961, she was permanently berthed at Yamashita Park, Naka-ku, Yokohama, as a floating museum, hotel and restaurant and was restored in 2007.
Yokohama Marine Tower.is a 106 metres (348 feet) high lattice tower with an observation deck at a height of 100 metres on the 39th floor.
Originally, at night, the tower shaft itself was lit green and red according to its markings, but now, after the reopening in May 2009, the lights are white.
Inaugurated in 1961. The Marine Tower is billed “the tallest lighthouse in the world”.
500Y, 400 reduced
Yokohama Doll Museum. Closed permanently?
Chinatown. A large district of narrow roads and hundreds of restaurants. Few restaurants have an English menu. When I ate there, I paid more than average for a poor meal. I would suggest that it be avoided.
ON Capsule 1 for a second night.

Day 6 Thur Nov 13
I hung around the hostel playing bridge, waiting for my train to Tokyo
Train to Tokyo. Keikye Main Line directly to the Aoto train station @15:10. 58 minutes
ON  Hotel Akai. Near the Aoto Station, it was a usual capsule hostel. I met an interesting Japanese man who lived between Australia and here.

Day 7 Fri Nov 15
I left the hotel at 8 to pick up the camping van near Narita Airport. I planned on being there at 9:30 when they opened. Samurai campers told me to take the train all the way to Narita and hire a taxi for 2,500Y.
At Aoto Station, I paid 1,150Y for the 78 km journey. I wanted to avoid Narita and a taxi, so I took the Express line with multiple stops. I got off at the last stop before Narita, Narita Yukawa, and it was two local buses (one with a 40-minute wait, the only transportation at this rural station to get 300 m from Samurai campers.
It took well over an hour to get the van with all the explanations and rules and I finally left at 1 pm.

Naritasan Shinoko-ji. A typical Shinto shrine, a 15-minute drive from Samurai.
Museum of Aeronautical Sciences. At Narita Airport, I drove by so stopped even though I had seen so many, I got little new knowledge. 500Y, 400 reduced.
Inubaraki Lighthouse. A 61 km drive each way. I didn’t go.
Ushuku Daibutsu. A mammoth standing Buddha 120 metres high, including the 10 m hexagonal base. The pose is Amitabha: left arm extended with palm facing out and right arm flexed with the hand forming an O with the thumb and forefinger. Weight 4,000 tons, Palm of left hand 18m, length of face 20m, length of eye 2.5m, length of mouth 4m, length of nose 1.2m, length of ear 10m, pointing finger 7m. Go inside the Buddha, there are 4 floors with temples and an observation deck. 800Y, including the extensive garden.

Ushika Chateau. A Meiji-era winery with winemaking history and a garden.
Peace Memorial. Commemorates Yokuren or pilots with many photographs by a famous Japanese photographer.

MITO
Kairakuen Garden. Established in 1842, it has many plum varieties, a bamboo forest, many large monuments and glorious blossoming cherry trees in April. 200Y
Art Tower Mito. A metal tower consisting of interconnecting triangular pyramids spirally upwards, with a gallery and performing arts venues. Lit up at night when I saw it.
ON near Kairakuen Garden in a quiet pull-off.

Day 9 Sat Nov 15
Hitachi Seaside Park. Most is separated from the sea by a large industrial area, but a corner gives access to large white dunes. Mostly woods with hiking trails. Known for its seasonal flower gardens. 500Y

GO TO TOHOKU SOUTH (Yamagata, Miyagi, Fukushima)

 

Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: 
Yokohama Air Cabin
Yokohama Municipal Subway
Art Museums
Yokohama: Iwasaki Museum
Yokohama: Kanazawa Bunko Museum
Yokohama: Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu Ware Museum
Yokohama: Yokohama Civic Art Gallery
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Yokohama: Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History
Yokohama: Urban History Museum
Yokohama: Yokohama History Museum
Religious Temples: Yokohama: Sōji-ji
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums: Yokohama: Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum
Museums – Decorative Arts, Design, Fashion: Yokohama: Silk Museum
Maritime/Ship Museums
Yokohama: NYK Maritime Museum
Zoos: Yokohama: Yokohama Zoo
Aquariums: Yokohama: Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Theme Parks, ‘Fun’ Museums and Miniatures
Yokohama: Museum of Tin Toys
Yokohama: Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
Yokohama: Yokohama Cosmoworld
Aviation Museums: Yokohama: Hamagin Space Science Center
Railway Museums: Yokohama: Hara Model Railway Museum

SAGAMIHARA

TAKASAKI/MACBASHI
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Takasaki: Gunma Prefectural Museum of History
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Takasaki: SL Minakami
Religious Monuments: Takasaki: Grand Byakue Kannon

UTSONOMIYA
Art Museums: Utsunomiya: Utsunomiya Museum of Art
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Utsunomiya: Oya History Museum

YOKOSUKA
Architectural Delights: Yokosuka: Yokosuka Arts Theatre
Maritime/Ship Museums: Yokosuka: Japanese Battleship Mikasa
Lighthouses: Yokosuka: Kannonzaki Lighthouse

CHIBA
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Chiba Urban Monorail
Art Museums: Chiba: Hoki Museum
Religious Temples: Chiba: Nihon-ji
Sports Museums: Chiba: Marines Museum
Malls/Department Stores: Chiba: Nikke Colton Plaza
Sports Museums: Chiba: Marines Museum

KAWASAKI
Art Museums: Kawasaki: Taro Okamoto Museum of Art
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Kawasaki: Kawasaki City Museum
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums
Kawasaki: Eco Gurashi Mirai-kan
Kawasaki: Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum
Kawasaki: Toshiba Science Museum
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums
Kawasaki: Eco Gurashi Mirai-kan
Kawasaki: Kawasaki Municipal Science Museum
Kawasaki: Toshiba Science Museum
Theme Parks, ‘Fun’ Museums and Miniatures: Kawasaki: Yomiuri Land
Open-Air Museums: Kawasaki: Nihon Minka-en
Bizzarium: Kawasaki: The Puchicalator (The world’s shortest escalator)

TOKYO
Architectural Delights: Tokyo: Tama Art University Library
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars:
Tokyo: SL Paleo Express
Tokyo: Takaotozan Railway
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels
Bridge – Tokyo: Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
Tunnel – Tokyo: Yamate Tunnel
Malls/Department Stores
Tokyo: AEON Lake Town Centre
Tokyo: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
Zoos: Tokyo: Tama Zoological Park
Theme Parks, ‘Fun’ Museums and Miniatures
Tokyo: Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo: Tokyo DisneySea
Railway Museums
Tokyo: Keio Rail-Land
Tokyo: Ome Railway Park

Villages and Small Towns:
NAKANOJO
GUNMA
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars:
Gunma: Harunasan Ropeway
Gunma: Minakami Gō (Steam)
Gunma: Nikkō Shiranesan Ropeway
KANAGAWA
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: 
Kanagawa: Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
Kanagawa: Hakone Tozan Cable Car
Kanagawa: Ōyama Cable Car

HAKONE
Art Museums: Hakone: Pola Museum of Art
Religious Temples: Hakone: Hakone-Jinja
World of Nature: Hakone
Botanical Gardens: Hakone: Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands
Open-Air Museums: Hakone: Hakone Open-Air Museum
Bizzarium: Hakone: Hakone Kowakien Yunessun

SAITAMA
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars:
Saitama: Chichibu Railway’s Paleo Express (Steam)
Saitama: Hodosan Ropeway
Art Museums: Saitama: Museum of Modern Art
Religious Temples: Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Railway Museums: Saitama: Railway Museum
Museums – Various: Saitama: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

SAKURA 
History, Culture, National and City Museums: Sakura:National Museum of Japanese History
Art Museums: Sakura: Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art
Windmills and Wheels: Sakura: De Liefde

KAMAKURA
Religious Temples
Kamakura: Kencho-ji
Kamakura: Kōtoku-in
Kamakura: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Religious Monuments: Kamakura: Daibutsu

TOCHIGI
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: 
Tochigi: Akechidaira Ropeway
Tochigi: Mooka Railway (Steam)
Bizzarium: Tochigi: Iwashita New Ginger Museum

Airports: Ibaraki (IBR)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: 
Ibaraki: Mount Tsukuba Cable Car
Omiya Station (Sataima)
Shimodate: SL Moka
Takao Tozan Cable
Tama Toshi Monorail
Roads, Road Bridges and Tunnels: Scenic Road – Iroha-Zaka
History, Culture, National and City Museums
Fujisawa: Ukiyo-e Museum
Kawagoe: Kawagoe Festival Museum
Matsudo: Tojo Museum of History
Art Museums: 
Ichihara: Ichihara Lakeside Museum (Ichihara City Water and Sculpture Hill)
Machida: Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts
Maebashi: Nakanosawa Museum
Yugawara: Yugawara Municipal Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Odawara: Odawara Castle
Religious Temples
Ashikaga: Banna-ji
Atsugi: Chokoku-ji
Higashimurayama: Shōfuku-ji
Kuki: Washinomiya Shrine
Narita: Naritasan Shinshoji Temple
Ome: Musashi Mitake Shrine
Takada: Senju-ji Hon-ji
Religious Monuments
Futtsu: Tokyo Wan Kannon
Kamagaya: Kamagaya Great Buddha
Ushiku: Ushiku Daibutsu
Military, War and Police Museums
Higashimatsuyama: Peace Museum of Saitama
Tsuchiura: YOKAREN Peace Memorial Museum
Science, Technology and all Industry and Mining Museums
Ashio: Ashio Dozan
Ichikawa: Chiba Museum of Science and Industry
World of Nature:, Jōshin’etsu-kōgen NP, Nikko NP
Botanical Gardens
Hitachinaka: Hitachi Seaside Park
Waterfalls: Fukuroda Falls, Kegon Falls, Ryūzu Falls
Caves, Sinkholes and Saltmines: Fujisawa: Enoshima Iwaya Cave
Lakes: Lake Ashi
Trails 2 – Hikes
Mount Mitake Hikes
Nikko kaido Hike
Aquariums
Fujisawa: Enoshima Aquarium
Kamogawa: Sea World
Oarai: Aqua World
Theme Parks, ‘Fun’ Museums and Miniatures
Hanno: Moomin Valley Park
Nikko: Tobu World Square
Tama: Sanrio Puroland
Well-being: Springs: Kusatsu Onsen, Springs: Takaragawa Onsen, Thermal Spa: Ikaho Onsen, Wineries: Ushiku Chateau
Lighthouses
Chōshi: Inubōsaki Lighthouse
Minamibōsō: Nojimazaki Lighthouse
Windmills and Wheels: Maebashi: Michinoeki Green Flower Stock Farm Windmill
Pedestrian and Historical Bridges: Enoshima: Benten Bridge
Vehicle Museums
Kamisu: Circuit Wolf Museum
Motegi: Honda Collection Hall
Zama: Nissan Heritage Collection
Aviation Museums
Shibayama: Museum of Aeronautical Sciences
Tokorozawa: Tokorozawa Aviation Museum
Open-Air Museums
Fuchu: Kyōdo-no-Mori
Kodaira: Kodaira Furusato Mura
Koganei: Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Sakae: “Boso-no-Mura” Historic Ambient

GO TO TOKYO