Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

5 DAYS

in Central Honshu

Day 1 yourself with some tasty soba noodles
at Uzuraya (3229 Togakushi). Spend the
Begin your tour in the buzzing young city rest of the day on the slopes or hiking,
of Yokohama (p152) at the world-class depend ing on the season. Either way,
Yokohama Museum of Arts. When you’ve indulge in a relaxing dip in one of Nagano’s
finished browsing the collection, and are onsen before dinner. Splash out on a meal
ready for lunch, head to the atmospheric at Fujiya Gohonjin (www.thefujiyagohonjin.
streets of Chinatown to try some nikuman com), or enjoy budget-friendly ramen at
(steamed buns) – Edosei (192 Yamashitacho) Misoya (1362 Minaminagano).
serves the best. Next, join the locals in
praying for prosperity at the Kanteibyo
Temple, then catch a bus to the beautiful Day 4
Sankeien Garden. Head back into the
city for a katsu dinner at Katsuretsu An Catch the shinkansen (bullet train) to
(katsuretsuan.co.jp), followed by a stroll Kanazawa (p164). This city is renowned
along the waterfront. End the day with a for its sushi, so be sure to sample some
ride on the ferris wheel for glittering views. at Honten Kaga Yasuke, near the station
(www.spacelan.ne.jp/~kagayasuke). A
Day 2 30-minute stroll will take you to the
disc-shaped 21st Century Museum of
Catch a train to historic Kamakura (p154), Contemporary Art. Explore the innovative
famed for its hillside temples. Start at the installations, leaving enough time to
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine, then make the three-hour bus ride to Wajima
walk to the waterfront to enjoy the city’s (p176). Check into Wajima Yashio, a ryokan
seaside vibe. For lunch, try vegan-friendly with ocean views and tasty treats for
Sairam (sairam-kamakura-en.link). Check dinner (www.wajima-yashio.com).
out the iconic Great Buddha, pausing to
cool down with some kakigori (shaved ice) Day 5
if the weather is warm, then take the
40-minute train ride from Hase Station to Wajima is famed for its morning market
Enoshima. This island’s enchanting beaches along Asaichi-dori, near the port. Seek out
are ideal for a lazy afternoon. Enoshima’s local seafood delicacies, before walking to
spe ciality is shirasu (fresh whitebait) – try the Wajima Nuri Kaikan (wajimanuri.or.jp/
it at Tobiccho Sandoten (tobiccho.com) kaikan/file12.html) to learn about the
before heading back to Kamakura. city’s famous ceramics. Head back toward
the market for a seafood lunch at Naruse
Day 3 (2-16 Kawaimachi), then spend the after-
noon sampling sake at Hiyoshi Sake
Nagano (p174) is nearly three hours away Brewery. Finish in time to catch the bus
on the train so set off early. Make your first from Banbacho to the Shiroyone Senmaida
stop the Zenko-ji, where you walk through rice fields for a picturesque rural sunset.
a dark passage in search of the “key to Return to Wajima and, after another top
paradise”. Once you’ve found it, reward meal, relax in the onsen at your ryokan.
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