Ayase

Ayase is a city in north-central Kanagawa Prefecture renowned for its meat produce, parks, nature and history. Kouza Pork, made in Ayase, is known for being one of Kanagawa Prefecture's Top 100 local specialties. A trip to Ayase wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the area's local produce so for any pork, ham or sausage lover a trip here is essential.

Ayase also hosts some amazing parks such as Shiroyama Park which comes with a roofed BBQ area, a roller slide and a Japanese garden. The seasonal blooms in the park are also worth seeing in addition to the 500 roses (66 varieties) which bloom in Mid-May and mid-October.

The city is also home to Gosha Shrine which is steeped in local history and includes a huge beech tree with deep foliage which is said to resemble the cosmos. The tree, shrine and surrounding area is designated as one of the city's cultural assets.