Let’s explore three spots in the Ebina area—fun, relaxing, and perfect for every lifestyle.

Ebina is a charming and cozy city located almost in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture, bringing together everything you need for a relaxed escape. It’s easy to get to, the atmosphere feels unhurried, the air is pleasant, and it’s perfect for a short, easygoing day trip. If Ebina could be summed up in just a few words, it would be “a city that instantly makes you feel at ease.”

Many people may know this place as a railway city, but beyond its relaxing atmosphere, Ebina also has a unique charm where local culture blends seamlessly with modern life. It’s a city made for leisurely strolls, slowing down, and spending unhurried time with yourself or with someone by your side.

For a one-day trip, here are three carefully picked spots to add to your Ebina travel itinerary:

• Romancecar Museum: A romantic railway museum perfect for travel lovers and fans of classic train design.
   
• Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café: A café-style space that invites visitors to step into the world of Japanese sake and experience its culture through flavor.
   
• ViNAWALK: A lively lifestyle complex filled with dining, shopping, and chill-out spots where it’s easy to spend the entire day without noticing the time go by.

Romancecar Museum — A Museum That Invites You to Travel Along Together

Sometimes, the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Knowing where you are and where you’re heading, and imagining what you might encounter along the way, adds a special kind of excitement—one that makes every trip feel more meaningful.

While searching for “things to do in Kanagawa” for a relaxed day out—somewhere easy to reach, no heavy planning required, and perfect for slow strolling and snapping beautiful photos—I came across the Romancecar Museum. This railway museum, operated by Odakyu, tells the story of the iconic limited express Romancecar, from its earliest days to the present, through exhibitions that are engaging, easy to follow, and genuinely fun.

With large-scale route recreations and hands-on activities, the museum isn’t just for hardcore train fans. Even those who are simply curious about Japanese technology or who love travel and transportation will find plenty of new perspectives and inspiration here.

Getting there is part of the ease. From Shinjuku, simply hop on the Odakyu Line and enjoy a relaxed ride of about 50 minutes to Ebina. If you’re coming from Yokohama, the Sotetsu Line’s limited express takes around 28 minutes. Another big plus: no chance of getting lost. From Ebina Station, it’s just a one-minute walk to the museum entrance.

This is definitely a spot worth saving to your checklist—a perfect place to drop by for an unhurried, stress-free stroll. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm, closed on Tuesdays, with last admission at 4:30pm.

One of the must-see zones is the Romancecar Gallery, where train lovers can easily lose track of time. Seeing the designs up close feels completely different from boarding a train in a rush, when we rarely stop to appreciate the thoughtful details that went into its creation.

There’s also the History Theater, where you can enjoy videos that feel like hopping into a time machine—traveling back through more than 100 years of Odakyu’s history. Right next to it, you’ll find the Moha 1, the very first train of this line, on full display. The interior is elegant, refined, and luxurious in a way that truly lives up to its reputation. Warm golden wood tones paired with deep blue seats create a color combination that feels effortlessly cool and timeless.

One of the zones where you immediately have to stop, stand still, and slowly let your eyes take in every detail is Diorama Park, a miniature city that presents the Odakyu railway line from Shinjuku all the way to Odawara, Hakone, and Enoshima in extremely fine detail.

The diorama here is grand in scale, covering more than 190 square meters, and looking at it feels as if Japan’s landscapes, cities, and journeys have been scaled down and placed right in front of you. What makes it special is that it features both legendary retired train sets and trains that are still running in real life today, moving back and forth on the same tracks, along with a combination of original music and projection mapping projected onto the diorama.

For those visiting with children, the second floor is home to the Kids Romancecar Park—though, honestly, it’s fun for all ages. There’s a wide range of activities, including the Interactive Art Wall, where waving your hands causes an entire town to spring up before your eyes, with schools, shops, and buildings appearing as you move.

There’s also a Workshop where you can make your own paper train for ¥500, then watch it run through a paper town outside the workshop. Anyone who enjoys detailed design, models, or hands-on crafting will definitely love this.

The space feels like a miniature city built for kids—but adults who appreciate design and model-making will find themselves just as absorbed. When we were children, interactive places like this weren’t nearly as common, so coming back to experiences like these as adults feels like fulfilling a childhood dream, gently awakening the inner child once again.

One of my favorite spots is the Station View Terrace. Head up to the rooftop and you’ll be rewarded with a clear view of Odakyu Ebina Station, where you can watch trains arrive and depart according to the posted timetable.

After exploring the museum, wrap up the trip with a satisfying meal at Vina Kitchen. With both savory and sweet options—pasta, curry, burgers, and more—it’s nice to leave with a full stomach, without needing to search for another restaurant afterward.

Romancecar Museum: Admission Fees

• Adults (junior high school students and above): ¥900
• Elementary school children: ¥400
• Children aged 3 and above: ¥100

After experiencing it firsthand, it’s clear that this isn’t just any railway museum. It’s truly a “World of Romancecar”—filled with interactive points where you can play, imagine, and immerse yourself in stories, memories, and classic design. Being able to see the real trains up close and even step inside them feels like boarding a time machine and traveling back through eras of Japanese rail history.

By the time you step out of the museum, one feeling naturally follows: I really want to book a ticket and ride the Romancecar for real.

So pack your bag—let’s travel through time together at the Romancecar Museum.

Sipping Sake in a Café Vibe at Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café

One drop tells countless stories. A single day that opens the door to the world of Japanese sake—sip after sip, delight after delight.

When people hear the words “sake brewery,” the first image that often comes to mind is a tall, imposing building that feels distant and inaccessible. A closed-off space with a serious, almost secretive atmosphere—certainly not somewhere outsiders are welcome. And if visits are allowed at all, they seem reserved for true sake enthusiasts or professionals in the food and beverage industry who already know what they are doing.

But stepping into Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café completely changes that perception. This place feels like an open gateway into the long history of sake—almost as if a thick book on Japanese sake has been thoughtfully condensed into an experience that is easy to understand and genuinely enjoyable. At the same time, all the senses are awakened; aroma, flavor, and sight come together, allowing visitors to witness the delicate craftsmanship and attention behind sake production in one visit.

It is a place that welcomes both beginners who want to start exploring sake and experienced drinkers who want to dive deeper and fully immerse themselves in its world. It is recommended to check the opening hours before visiting, as weekday and weekend hours are different, ensuring the trip can be enjoyed to the fullest.

First Impressions: Quiet and Refined

Arriving at Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café, the exterior appears simple and understated, yet carries a calm elegance and politeness that feels distinctly Japanese.

As soon as the door opens, a gentle aroma of fermented rice drifts out to greet visitors—almost as if to say, “You’ve arrived at Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café.” It feels like a warm welcome, charming and memorable, much like being impressed from the very first welcome drink at a hotel. The scent is both comforting and mysterious. This aroma feels like the café’s signature aroma, and it is precisely this scent that lingers quietly in memory long after leaving.

Inside the Café: Warm, Inviting, and Thoughtfully Designed

Inside, the space includes a sake retail corner, an area where parts of the brewery can be viewed up close, and a café serving both non-alcoholic drinks—thoughtfully catering to those who may not drink alcohol—as well as food made from the brewery’s own ingredients.

The atmosphere feels warm and unmistakably Japanese. But the true highlight awaits at the tasting counter, where sake can be sampled right at its source.

Tasting Before Buying: A Relaxed and Friendly Atmosphere

The tasting system here is casual and welcoming, allowing visitors to sample before purchasing by first buying tasting tickets at the cashier.

There is a choice of three tickets (¥220) or up to six tickets, with each ticket allowing a 10ml pour. The portions are intentionally small—just enough to get acquainted with each flavor. It feels like stepping into the role of a food blogger, sampling a variety of styles, discovering new tastes, and searching for personal favorites.

Many visitors come simply to browse and shop without drinking at all. For those who want to seriously compare flavors, sake can be ordered from the café menu and enjoyed while seated at a table. For those who just want a quick taste before deciding, the tasting counter is the perfect option.

From the moment the first glass is lifted, attention naturally focuses on the soft fruity aromas drifting toward the nose. When the sake touches the tip of the tongue, the flavors gradually become clearer and more defined. The charm of sake lies not only in drinking for taste, but in savoring its meaning—the origins, the craftsmanship, and the dedication of the brewers hidden within every drop.

Three Must-Try Sake for Beginners and True Enthusiasts

1. Megumi Blue Label – Junmai Ginjo

A top performer in both flavor and popularity, and the brewery’s best-selling sake. One sip instantly explains why it is so well-loved. Bright, clean, and easy to drink, with gentle sweetness and subtle lychee notes. Perfect for those who do not often drink sake but enjoy a light sake character blended with fruity aromas. The 180ml bottle size makes it an elegant and well-proportioned souvenir.

2. Tonbo – Rakufumai (IWC Gold Award 2025)

A must-try for white wine lovers.

Aroma: Lychee, pear, dried fig, and light minerality
Flavor: Smooth and layered, with a beautifully balanced sweet-and-tangy profile

Each sip feels like a fresh morning, with a distinctly Japanese nuance woven throughout.

3. Tonbo – Yamada Nishiki

Often referred to as “the king of sake rice,” and deservedly so. Sweet peach-like aromas lead into a soft, refined palate, finishing clean, light, and transparent. This bottle feels luxurious and tasteful—like a woman in an evening gown, elegant, expensive, and effortlessly classy.

Seasonal Release – Snowman Label

Crisp freshness reminiscent of biting into a green apple. This seasonal sake is released only once a year and feels incredibly lively and refreshing. Bright green aromas, gentle sweetness, and a subtle sparkling sensation awaken the senses.

• Black label: Fresh and unpasteurized, sensitive to temperature
• White label: Pasteurized and can be kept for about one month

Kuro Tonbo – For Lovers of Depth and Aged Spirits

Designed for those who enjoy depth—whisky lovers and fans of aged spirits in particular. The aroma carries warm notes of aged wood with whisky-like depth, yet still retains the softness of sake. It feels like a refined gentleman: composed, confident, and fully aware of who he is.

While sake is the star, the café’s food is just as impressive, with many standout dishes worth trying.

Rice Flour Pizza

Made from rice used in sake brewing, topped with homemade Japanese-style ingredients such as:

• Shirasu & Aonori seaweed
• Shio-koji marinated pork & mushrooms
• Sake lees & honey cream cheese (a personal favorite and worth returning for)

Koji-Based Amazake

Naturally sweet from enzymes, with no added sugar—enjoyable for both children and adults.

Handmade Snacks

Made from miso, koji, and house-fermented soy sauce. The sake lees crackers paired with maitake mushroom dip are a perfect match.

A Glimpse into the Brewery

Group tours are currently limited, but from the café, parts of the sake-making process can still be seen. Combined with English-language videos explaining each step from start to finish, it becomes easy to understand why the flavors are so refined and detailed.

This place reveals that truly tasting and understanding sake is an art experienced through all five senses. Tasting sake at an actual brewery opens the door to an experience filled with the aroma of rice, the warmth of wooden vats, and the dedication poured into every single drop.

Beyond getting to know sake through Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café, this place also leads to a deeper discovery—finding which sake best reflects personal taste, and, in the process, discovering more about oneself through sake.

ViNAWALK: A Chill Hangout Spot Bringing Every Lifestyle Together

There are days when all you want is to take a relaxed walk in an open space—somewhere with good food, places to browse and shop, and an atmosphere that isn’t overly crowded, all in one location. While looking for a comfortable, easygoing place to spend the day, I came across ViNAWALK, a long-established complex that has been open since 2002. Operated by Odakyu, it is located near Ebina Station.

It’s about a 5-minute walk from Ebina Station to ViNAWALK — not far at all.

ViNAWALK: Opening Hours

• Shops & Service Stores: 10am – 8pm
• Restaurants: Opening hours vary by store
• Ebina Marui: 10:30am – 8pm

Note: The first-floor Marui Shokuyukan (food zone) opens from 10am.

From the very first step into ViNAWALK, it’s clear that this place is different from a typical shopping mall. Six buildings are arranged around Ebina Central Park, and the more you walk, the more it feels like strolling through a small town rather than navigating a large, enclosed commercial complex.

All the buildings are connected by open walkways, making it easy and comfortable to walk without feeling cramped. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a wide, open central space that feels refreshing and calm—perfect for slowing down and taking a mental break. With so many shops to explore, it’s easy to spend the entire day here. Before I knew it, three hours had already passed.

Visitors here span all age groups. Some come alone, others in groups. Families stroll together, parents spending time outdoors with their children, and even those with young kids in tow. Everyone seems to be enjoying the space in their own way.

While riding the train, I looked up a bit more about ViNAWALK and learned that the name “Vina” comes from ViVA NATURES, a phrase that expresses appreciation for nature. Seeing it in person, the concept makes perfect sense. Green spaces blend seamlessly with shops, cafés, and restaurants. The idea of “Rambling Terrace” displayed on the ViNAWALK sign reflects the spirit of the place perfectly—an area designed for wandering at an unhurried pace, enjoying whatever you happen to encounter along the way.

After walking for a short while, the deep yellow sign with bold red lettering is impossible to miss—TOWER RECORDS. This is the TOWER RECORDS mini, easy to browse and truly a haven for music lovers. There’s no need to travel all the way into the city to pick up albums from your favorite artists.

For those with dogs, ViNAWALK is especially appealing—it’s incredibly pet-friendly.

Inside, you’ll find PETEMO (PETLIFE STORE), filled with adorable items for pets, along with grooming services for both dogs and cats. During festive seasons like Christmas, the selection of outfits and accessories is especially impressive. Anyone who loves a festive atmosphere shouldn’t miss it. There are also winter clothes available, so you can rest assured your dog will stay warm—and stylish—through the season.

Among all the places for relaxation and leisure, spotting the familiar green sign with white lettering instantly brings a smile—it’s NITORI. Having NITORI here is such a treat. Sometimes you need home essentials or cute decorative items but never quite find the time to shop for them. Knowing NITORI is right here feels incredibly satisfying.

Browsing home décor while thinking, “I’ll just take a quick look,” honestly never works. At least 30 minutes pass before you know it, and once inside, it’s easy to lose track of time. It’s perfect for anyone who loves home styling or charming little decorative pieces. For families, it works beautifully too—parents and kids can walk together or split up for a bit: dad at the record store, mom browsing home goods, and kids picking out things for the dog. It’s a space that caters to different interests effortlessly.

As the afternoon goes on, hunger naturally kicks in. A sweet aroma drifts down from the second floor, and following the scent up the stairs leads straight to MARION CRÊPES, the famous Japanese crêpe shop from Harajuku, Tokyo. Established in 1976, it’s nice to enjoy this iconic taste without having to go all the way to Harajuku.

Continuing to stroll around the second floor near the crêpe shop, I came across another long-standing Japanese favorite—Purikura (photo sticker booths). Even if you’ve tried them before, today’s versions offer so many new styles. One of the most interesting is the magazine-cover or CD-jacket style, and even ID-photo formats that somehow still look beautifully polished. These are definitely not your standard ID photos.

In the Purikura area, there are also full-length mirrors, a wide selection of costumes, and makeup and hair styling corners—everything you need to be photo-ready from head to toe. No need to worry about outfit preparation here. Next time I come with friends, this is absolutely a spot we’ll try together.

As I continued exploring the second floor of ViNAWALK, it became clear just how diverse the shops are. One place that truly stood out and felt especially exciting was Popondetta with Odakyu Train Gallery. The shop is filled with miniature train models—from Shinkansen to JR lines, other trains, and the cutest tiny vehicles imaginable.

There’s even a large model railway where you can select a train and watch it run along the tracks using a control panel (it’s recommended to check the fee beforehand). Prices for the models start at around ¥500 and go up to several thousand yen. For anyone who loves trains, it feels like stepping straight into a dream world dedicated entirely to railways. It really feels like a place where the dreams of train enthusiasts and miniature lovers come together.

To end the day, if there’s no rush to head back, staying to watch the evening light is highly recommended. Many people say that the light in Japan is especially beautiful for photos, and it’s easy to see why. The soft, warm orange glow feels almost magical.

Looking out into the distance, you can even spot the faint silhouettes of mountains. It’s the perfect view for resting your eyes and spending quiet moments before starting a new day. Escaping from the rush of everyday life to recharge here feels effortless—even when visiting alone, it’s easy to wander for hours without realizing how much time has passed.

Sometimes, what we need on a day off is a place that brings everything together—fun, good food, and relaxation—so we can truly let our minds unwind. A gentle breeze, open spaces, and on some evenings, live music playing softly in the background. When the music, the wind, and the evening sunlight come together, the result is a simple yet deeply comforting moment.

If anyone asks for a place near Tokyo that blends a relaxed atmosphere, nature, and a sense of journey all in one, ViNAWALK is a destination I’d happily recommend. And I’ll definitely be back again.

This trip was all about soaking in a perfectly laid-back day, like slowly savoring happiness one sip at a time. It began at the Romancecar Museum, ideal for those who love travel and classic design, followed by Izumibashi Sake Brewery Café, a perfect stop for sake lovers and anyone who enjoys tasting the stories of Japanese culture through drinks.

The day wrapped up with a leisurely stroll at ViNAWALK, a place that brings together every lifestyle and welcomes all ages with just the right balance of fun and relaxation. A relaxed day like this in Ebina is definitely a route worth saving—and one to experience for yourself at least once.