Getting Around

Thanks to its diverse range of destinations—from Kamakura’s ancient architecture to Yokohama’s lively city streets—Kanagawa has long been a staple in many people’s itineraries. Located just south of Tokyo, this prefecture makes for a perfect day trip and is easily accessible via public transportation. Follow our guide below, and start planning your next trip to Kanagawa! Please note that the below information is up-to-date as of September 2022.

Access to Kanagawa

You can access Kanagawa via several trains and buses that depart from central Tokyo. Listed below are common ways to reach Kanagawa’s top destinations.

Yokohama

Yokohama is Japan’s second-largest city and renowned for its Japanese-Chinese-Western culture. The city’s collection of museums, skyscrapers, and waterside views make it a highly popular destination. Compared to Kanagawa’s other notable spots, Yokohama is the closest to central Tokyo and is about a 20- to 40-minute train ride depending on the line you take. 

Kamakura

Famous for its shrines, temples, and seasonal flowers, Kamakura offers a wealth of cultural exploration. In general, you can reach Kamakura within one hour from central Tokyo and 30 minutes from Yokohama Station.

Hakone

Hakone is celebrated for its hot springs, natural beauty, and views of Mount Fuji, making it a relaxing getaway for Tokyoites and international visitors alike. Hakone is the farthest from central Tokyo, and generally is about a 1.5 hour train ride. From Yokohama, you can reach Odawara in about one hour. Please note that from Odawara station, you will need to take local trains or buses to reach the Hakone area.

Aside from the trains listed above, you can also reach Hakone with the Odakyu Hakone Highway Bus. This bus departs from Shinjuku Station and arrives at Hakone’s Lake Ashi area. The ride takes about 2.5 hours and costs 2,040 yen.

Getting Around Kanagawa’s Key Areas

Kanagawa is well connected by a web of buses and trains, as well as less traditional methods, such as ropeways and boats, making it an easy place to explore. Please see below for an extensive list of the prefecture’s internal transportation options.

Kamakura

Due to its small size, Kamakura is served by only two railways: JR East and Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway). Enoden follows the coast from Kamakura to Fujisawa Station and is a popular train thanks to its retro appearance. You can also explore the charming city on foot, by bike, by local bus, or by taxi.

Yokohama

From Yokohama Station, you can easily reach the city’s most popular spots with a scenic walk along the waterside. Yokohama’s downtown area is also well connected by an extensive municipal bus system, making traveling between sightseeing destinations a breeze.

• Akaikutsu Loop Bus: characterized by its retro style and red coloring, this bus starts at Sakuragicho Station and stops at multiple sightseeing spots, including Chinatown and Yamashita Park. It runs every 30 minutes during the week and every 15 minutes during the weekend.
• Bayside Blue Bus: runs between Yokohama Station and Yamashita Pier every 30 minutes and stops at a number of popular destinations, such as the Cup Noodle Museum and Red Brick Warehouse.
• Burari-Sankeien BUS: connects Yokohama Station to Sankeien and departs every 35 minutes. Please note that it only runs on weekends and holidays.
• Burari-Nogeyama-Dobutsuen Bus: connects Yokohama Station to Nogeyama Zoo and departs every 20 minutes. 
• Pier Line: connects Sakuragicho Station to Yokohama Hammerhead

Aside from its buses, you can also explore Yokohama with the municipal subway, which departs every 30 minutes and travels between Yokohama and Isezaki-chojamachi Station.

Hakone

While Hakone is more remote compared to Kamakura and Yokohama, it is still well connected by trains and buses. Thanks to the area’s natural beauty, many of its travel options blur the line between transportation and sightseeing. The Hakone Tozan Railway, for instance, is one of Japan’s few mountain railways and weaves passengers through lush scenery year-round!

• Hakone Tozan Train: operates between Hakone-Yumoto and Gora
• Hakone Tozan Cable Car: operates between Gora to Sounzan

The Hakone Tozan Bus is another convenient option that travels between popular destinations, such as the Hakone Glass Forest and Gotemba Premium Outlets.

More Than Just Transportation!

While the aforementioned buses, trains, and subways are excellent ways to travel around Kanagawa, you can also explore the area with options that combine both sightseeing and travel.

In Yokohama, bypass the city streets and travel by water on the Sea Bass! This water bus departs every 15 minutes from Yokohama Bay Quarter, located near Yokohama Station’s East Exit, and stops at multiple sightseeing destinations. As you cruise along the water, you can enjoy stunning views of Yokohama’s seafront skyline. Ticket prices range from 500 and 1,000 yen depending on the destination. For views of the urban landscape from above, you can hop on the Yokohama Air Cabin, which is a ropeway that travels between Sakuragicho Station and Unga Park. One-way tickets cost 1,000 yen (500 yen for children).

Hakone’s diverse natural landscape of mountains and water also offers numerous unique transportation methods. One of the most popular options is the Hakone Ropeway, which travels between Togendai and Sounzan Station, and offers stunning panoramas of the valley below and even Mount Fuji on clear days. After touching the sky, explore Hakone’s waters on the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise. These ships, which are designed to look like pirate ships, travel between Togendai-ko, Hakone-machi-ko, and Moto-Hakone-ko, and offer up close views of Lake Ashi’s glittering waters. 

Another fun way to travel around Kanagawa, especially in Kamakura and Yokohama, is via rickshaws. These traditional, man-pulled vehicles are a fun way to explore any area and are pulled by friendly guides that share insightful information. 

Discount Transportation Passes

Discover a range of discount passes that not only offer great transportation deals, but can also include perks and discounts at participating tourist facilities and stores. Happy traveling!

Find a Kanagawa discount travel pass