Trip reports
A Sustainable Day in Hadano, Kanagawa
Immerse yourself in Japan’s traditional charm, pleasant nature, handmade cuisine, and nourishing hot springs in Hadano! This city, located roughly in central Kanagawa Prefecture, encompasses part of the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park and is blessed with scenic hiking trails, natural hot springs, local agriculture, and majestic views of Mount Fuji. If you are interested in exploring Japan’s slower pace of life, Hadano is the place for you!
From Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, Hadano Station is only about an hour train ride via the Odakyu Line or Romancecar.
Thanks to its ecotourism offerings, preserved culture, and local vibes, Hadano is a great place to practice sustainable tourism. In short, sustainable tourism refers to ways that people can travel today to maintain and enhance the vitality of tourist destinations for the future. For a fulfilling and sustainable trip, check out our one-day Hadano itinerary below.
Summary of Itinerary
- Visit Ryokusui-an, a National Tangible Cultural Property, and learn about farmhouse architecture from the early Showa Era (1926-1989)
- Enjoy handmade soba, and support local farmers at Tahara Furusato Park
- Relax at Tsurumaki Onsen Motoyu Jinya, a hot spring facility with over 100 years of history
Travel to first spot (Hadano Station → Ryokusui-an)
- Car: 16-18 minutes
- Bus: 20 minutes
Ryokusui-an
Kick off your sustainable journey with cultural learning at Ryokusui-an, a private residence built in the 1930s. The old farmhouse was relocated to Minoge, Hadano and restored in 1991 and later, in 2020, designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property thanks to its connection to tobacco cultivation.
The preserved structure expertly illustrates farmhouse architecture from the early Showa Era and is a prime example of the typical design for tobacco farmers’ residences. Inside, the home displays a variety of agricultural tools and everyday items so visitors can learn more about farming life at that time. The rustic facade, coupled with the encircling trees, is guaranteed to foster your curiosity for times past. As a bonus, the facility also hosts evening foliage illuminations in mid-November.
Location-wise, Ryokusui-an is only about a 40-minute bus ride or 20-minute drive from Yabitsu Pass. This paved mountain road acts as a gateway to Mt. Tanzawa and is popular among cyclists and hikers. If you are feeling extra adventurous, why not pair your cultural exploration with some eco-tourism?
Details:
- Website: https://www.kankou-hadano.org/pointinformation/pointinformationguide/point_ryokusuian.html
- Address: 269 Minoge, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture 257-0021 (Google Map)
- Business hours:
- Apr to Oct: 10am–5pm
- Nov to Mar: 10am–4pm
- Closed: Monday, Dec 29 - Jan 3
- Price: free admission
Travel to next spot (Ryokusui-an → Tahara Furusato Park):
- Car: 5 minutes
- Bus: 25-30 minutes
Tahara Furusato Park and Shinonome (soba restaurant)
Next, explore local life at Tahara Furusato Park. This park was established in 2000 to revitalize local agriculture and serves as a communal space for residents and visitors alike. The charming area is encircled by rice fields, farmlands, and Hadano’s distant mountains, creating a landscape that epitomizes quaint farming life. With its wide grassy areas, outdoor seating, and water features, the park is an excellent place for people of all ages to connect with nature.
The park is best known for its handmade soba (buckwheat noodles), soba-making experience, and direct sales shop where farmers sell vegetables and other agricultural products.
The soba restaurant, Shinonome, serves delectable soba that it mills in a water wheel onsite. We highly recommend that you try the facility’s vegetable tempura and soba combo. The simple, yet addictive flavors and contrasting textures are a match made in heaven.
Alternatively, you can join the restaurant’s soba-making workshop. During this hands-on experience, the instructor will assist you in sifting buckwheat flour, kneading dough, rolling it, and slicing it. At the end, the restaurant will boil your soba so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor as a reward. Please call 0463-84-1282 before your visit to make a reservation.
Tahara Furusato Park’s offerings support local businesses and the community, as well as cultural sustainability by maintaining and sharing the soba-making process.
Details:
- Website: https://www.city.hadano.kanagawa.jp/www/contents/1001000001214/index.html
- Address: 999 Higashitawara, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture 257-0028 (Google Map)
- Business hours (soba restaurant):
- Weekdays: 11am–2pm
- Weekends & holidays: 11am–2:30pm
- Closed: Monday, Year-end and New Year holidaysPrice: 5,000 per four people (soba-making experience)
Travel to next spot (Tahara Furusato Park → Tsurumaki Onsen Motoyu Jinya):
- Car: 20 minutes
- Bus/train: 35-40 minutes
Tsurumaki Onsen Motoyu Jinya
End your mentally-engaging day with a soak at Tsurumaki Onsen Motoyu Jinya (hereinafter JINYA). This ryokan, or traditional Japanese style inn, uses natural hot spring water sourced from underneath the Tanzawa Mountains and features a massive Japanese garden. The hot spring water is famous for its high density of calcium and is said to beautify skin and help relieve a number of physical ailments.
JINYA has both indoor and outdoor baths that are available for day use. If the weather is mild, we highly recommend opting for an outdoor bath where you can relax in healing waters surrounded by nature. JINYA accepts walk-ins; however, if you are interested in a private bath, you should make a reservation ahead of time.
Aside from its hot spring facilities, JINYA also offers exquisite kaiseki, which are traditional multi-course Japanese meals. JINYA prioritizes the use of locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients for its dishes and even utilizes Hadano’s fresh spring water in its cooking processes. In a traditional-modern room, pamper yourself with luxurious flavors as you admire the gardens beyond.
In terms of sustainable travel, a stay at JINYA allows you to support both an over 100-year old business and Japanese onsen culture.
Details:
- Website: https://www.jinya-inn.com/index.php/topic/home_en
- Address: 2-8-24 Tsurumaki-kita, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture 257-0001 (Google Map)
- Onsen business hours (for day trip):
- 11:30am–10pm (last check-in: 8pm (7pm on Mondays))
- For Akashi and Aoi baths: 11:30am–9pm
- Private open-air bath: 11am–3pm (last check-in: 2pm)
- Price: depends on food/bath plan (day plan details)
Hadano: A Cultural and Natural Retreat
Thanks to its close proximity to Tokyo—only about one hour from Shinjuku Station—Hadano makes for a perfect day trip where you can take a break from the busyness of the city. Here, you can embrace cultural learning, explore nature, and support local businesses and customs to create an itinerary that embodies sustainable travel. By prioritizing responsible travel, you can help ensure that future visitors can experience all of Hadano's wonders!
