2025 Isehara Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

#summervacay **📍 Where?** Nakai-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa (90min from Tokyo) **⏰ Best Time?** **June** (fireflies) or **October** (koyo autumn leaves) --- ### **✨ Why Solo Travelers Love This Secret Spot** - **🌳 Moss-Covered Trails** – Walk the **Yamabushi Pilgrimage Path** to hidden shrines - **♨️ Solitude Onsen** – **Yunohana Onsen’s** cliffside baths with no crowds - **🍵 Matcha Roots** – Birthplace of **Shibamata Tea** (tour family-run farms) - **📸 Nostalgic Vibes** – Preserved 1950s streets in **Nakai Showa Village** --- ### **🚆 Solo-Friendly Access** 1. **From Tokyo:** - Odakyu Line to Shin-Matsuda → Bus to Nakai-machi (¥1,800 total) 2. **From Odawara:** - Local train to Yamakita → Taxi (¥3,000) or hike 2hr through cedar forests --- ### **🌅 Perfect Solo Itinerary** **Morning Mystique:** - 6:30 AM: Sunrise at **Ooyama Afuri Shrine** (hike or cable car) - 8:30 AM: Breakfast at **Cafe Kiccho** (ancient farmhouse turned café) **Afternoon Adventure:** - 11:00 AM: **Tea Picking Experience** at Maruyama-en (reserve ahead) - 2:00 PM: **Kurokura Waterfall** meditation spot (hidden behind shrine) **Evening Magic:** - 5:30 PM: **Firefly Viewing** at Nakai River (June only, bring mosquito spray) - 7:00 PM: Stay at **Minshuku Yamabiko** – family-run inn with star-gazing baths --- ### **💡 Insider Tips** ✔ **Hidden Trail:** Behind Kurokura Shrine leads to **"Lovers’ Cedar"** (500yo tree) ✔ **Local Treat:** Try **cha-soba** (green tea noodles) at **Soba Dokoro Nakai** ✔ **Day Trip:** Combine with **Lake Tanzawa** (30min bus) for kayaking --- ### **📸 Must-Capture Moments** ✅ Morning mist weaving through **tea fields** ✅ Your reflection in **Yunohana Onsen’s** iron-rich waters ✅ **Abandoned train tracks** reclaimed by nature near Nakai Station --- ### **🌿 Beyond Nakai-machi** - **Doshi Village** – Thatched roof houses & sake breweries - **Mt. Oyama** – Spiritual hiking trails with tofu temple meals - **Hadano** – Visit the **Atsugi Antique Market** (1st Sundays) --- ### **📌 Hashtag Your Retreat** #HiddenKanagawa #SoloJapan #NakaiMachiya #OnsenAlone #TokyoEscape --- **🍃 Solo Wisdom:** "Sipping freshly whisked matcha on a silent tea farm, hearing only the wind chimes of a shrine no map shows—this is real Japan." *Mountain hiker or onsen lover? Tea connoisseur or nostalgia seeker?* 🏔️🍵 Comment below! **P.S.** The area’s **"Seven Hidden Waterfalls"** each grant different luck—find them all! 💧🍀

📍 Location: Isehara, Kanagawa (approx. 1 hour from Tokyo) 📝 My Experience: I visited Isehara as part of a day trip from Tokyo, mainly to explore Mount Oyama (Ōyama) — and it was one of the most refreshing parts of my journey. If you’re looking to escape the busy city and reconnect with nature, I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary. 🌲 Highlights: • Mount Oyama Hiking Trail: Well-marked paths, peaceful atmosphere, and breathtaking views from the top. The Oyama Afuri Shrine halfway up is incredibly scenic. • Cable Car: You can take a cable car up if you don’t feel like hiking all the way. It’s quick, convenient, and offers great views. • Local Shops: The approach to the shrine is lined with traditional shops selling tofu, mochi, and wooden crafts. • Spiritual Feel: The shrines and temples have a calm, almost mystical atmosphere. It’s a great place for reflection and quiet. 🍜 Food Tip: Try the Oyama Tofu dishes — the area is famous for them! I stopped by a local family-run restaurant and had tofu hotpot, which was light and flavorful.

・A perfect hiking spot to enjoy nature casually! ・With the cable car, it takes about 90 minutes to ascend and 60 minutes to descend. For those looking for a workout, hiking the entire trail without the cable car is also fun and rewarding^^ ・At Oyama Afuri Shrine along the way, you can collect sacred water and get seasonal limited-edition shrine stamps! ・Enjoy local delicacies like dumplings, tofu, and soba noodles! If you're traveling via Odakyu Line, the Tanzawa-Oyama Free Pass is highly recommended⛰️ On the way down, you might even encounter a family of wild deer! 📍Location: Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 💞Why it's recommended: Compared to places like Mount Takao, it's slightly less crowded even on weekends.

#Spring0yentrip "Isehara Shopping Street, located just a few steps from Isehara Station, the gateway to Oyama in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a nostalgic street that retains a Showa-era retro atmosphere. Old signboard buildings and privately-owned shops that are still open today line the streets, and you can feel the warmth of the locals 🍡 The quiet morning hours are perfect for taking snapshots. It's also a great spot to stop by before or after hiking ◎ Travel tips 3 minutes walk from Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line. Casual enough to wear hiking gear. Morning to afternoon is the best time for photos and people. Don't miss the retro greengrocers and bakeries! "

#Spring0yentrip "From the summit of Mt. Oyama, which is 1,252m above sea level, you can see Sagami Bay, Enoshima, and Mt. Fuji! The moment you reach the summit, you are hit with a sense of accomplishment and a spectacular view. Eating rice balls at the observation deck was the best🍙✨ The silence of nature and the sound of the wind are soothing, and I can understand why mountain climbing is so addictive. It takes some physical strength, but it's even more soothing. Travel tips It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the summit. Starting early in the morning on a clear day is the best for both the view and the people! It's windy at the summit, so a windbreaker is a must."

#Spring0yentrip "Oyama, a popular trekking spot in Kanagawa Prefecture, is a course where you can enjoy nature on a day trip from the city center. Even beginners can try this route, and the view from Oyama Afuri Shrine along the way is truly divine! In the autumn leaves season, the whole area is dyed red and yellow, and I couldn't stop taking pictures. The air is good and my body feels refreshed✨ Travel tips From Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line, take a bus for about 30 minutes → Oyama Cable → start climbing. The best season for autumn leaves is mid-November. Wear warm clothes and non-slip shoes!

#Spring0yentrip "Oyama, located in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a spectacular trekking spot where you can enjoy autumn leaves on a day trip from the city center! You can take a cable car to the middle of the mountain, so it's a safe trip even if you're not confident in your physical strength. The view of the autumn leaves and Sagami Bay from near the summit is simply amazing, and combined with the clear autumn air, it was refreshing to the max✨ Travel tips Take a bus from Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line to Oyama Cable Station. The peak of the autumn leaves is usually mid- to late November. Weekdays are the best time to go, as they are less crowded, and wear comfortable clothes! "

The 4-hour hike to Mount Oyama was an incredible experience, offering just the right mix of challenge and tranquility. The trail was of moderate difficulty, with a few steep sections that kept me engaged but weren’t overly strenuous. Along the way, I had the pleasure of visiting the serene Afuri Shrine, which added a peaceful spiritual element to the hike. The combination of natural beauty and cultural sites made the journey even more rewarding. Reaching the summit offered breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fulfilling hike with a bit of history and culture along the way!😎😎😎 #japantrip #Mount_oyama #hike #thingstodo

~Isehara City, Kanagawa~Enjoy the suite room! Hidden luxury hotel✨ 💡Point💡☑︎Two bedrooms! The spacious suite has two bedrooms! Recommended for large groups◎ ☑︎Two baths! Enjoy bath time as many times as you like with the outdoor open-air bath and the indoor bath! ☑︎The interior is lovely✨The room is luxurious, but not too luxurious with a calm interior. ~My impressions after actually going there📝~With an indoor jet bath and an open-air bath, it's a luxurious space where you can spend the whole day at the hotel! Recommended for those who want to enjoy a hotel stay! There are two bathrooms, washrooms, and bedrooms, so it's perfect for large groups. I'd love to stay here again. ♡ 📍Hotel Gendai Rakuen Isehara Branch 1455 Zenba, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 259-1106 #Hotel review #Kanagawa Hotel #Luxury space #Rina Japanese Travel #Isehara City #Hotel stay

Mt. Oyama is located almost in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture. A little way up there is a temple called Oyama-ji Temple. You can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves there! It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo, using train and bus. How to get there: Take a bus from the north exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line. Then take the cable car and get off at Oyama-ji Station. Tourist attractions: Oyama-ji Temple, and just above it is Oyama Afuri Shrine. Hotels: There are many accommodations near the Oyama bus terminal. Dining & Restaurants: Oyama Tofu is recommended! Shopping: There are many souvenir shops between the bus terminal and the cable car station! #FuriTabiWinter

Oyama is located in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It's a lesser-known attraction, but the fall leaves are beautiful. You can take the cable car directly to Afuri Shrine, passing Oyama Temple on the way. The cable car costs JPY 640 one-way and JPY 1,250 round-trip. Take the cable car directly to Afuri Shrine Station, and the shrine is just a short walk away. Note that Afuri Shrine is the lower shrine, and the main shrine is at the top of the mountain. If you have the time and energy, it's worth a visit.

#FuriTabi A popular course for climbing Mt. Oyama in Kanagawa Prefecture. Starting from the lower shrine of Afuri Shrine, the course takes about 5 hours (with breaks) to reach the summit of Mt. Oyama via the main approach, Fujimidai, and the descent via the observation deck. Along the way, there are spots where you can experience rare nature, such as Meoto Sugi, Nijutaki waterfall, and virgin fir forests, and you can enjoy climbing while feeling the seasons such as fresh greenery and autumn leaves. The view of Mt. Fuji from Fujimidai is also one of the attractions of this course. It is a popular climbing route for beginners as well, as you can take a cable car to an altitude of about 700m in one go.

~Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture~ Oyama Afuri Shrine. Autumn leaves are lit up every year! ☑️A spot where you can see the night view and autumn leaves at the same time! ☑️The cable car is also lit up! ☑️Autumn-only temple seals are distributed! ~My impressions after actually going there📝~A spectacular spot where you can see the night view and autumn leaves lit up at night! This is the only place in Kanagawa where you can see the night view and autumn leaves at the same time! It's a recommended autumn leaf spot to visit in the fall. ➖Outing plan➖📍Spot name Oyama Afuri ShrineAddress: Cable car address 667-2024 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa PrefectureFor information, check the website! Cost: Cable car round trip Adult: 1,270 yen Children: 640 yen ⚠Caution: Dress warmly! You can walk to the top of the mountain, but the cable car is recommended during the illumination period. #Beginning of autumn #Autumn leaves #Autumn leaf viewing spots #Autumn leaf illumination #Kanagawa tourism #Kanagawa prefecture #Travelling around Japanese culture

📍Oyama, Isehara The Painted Lantern Festival is being held at Oyama in Isehara from August 10th (Sat) to 14th (Sun)! The Oyama Cable Car will also be running from August 10th (Sat) to 18th! You can see some fantastical painted lanterns! Come and see the night view as well! There were lanterns with your favorite characters on them, too It was fun looking for them! 【INFORMATION】 Oyama, Isehara 📮 355 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 🕐9:00-20:30 (only during events) #SummerFestival2024 #LanternFestival #IseharaTourism

📍Oyama Afuri Shrine Limited time only! The Picture Lantern Festival is on! Until August 14th! The Oyama Cable Car will also be running at night until the 18th (Sun)! (Operating hours: sunset to 20:30) The night view x lanterns x shrine were so mystical and beautiful! There were even lanterns with anime drawings on them! Please come and see them! [INFORMATION] Oyama Afuri Shrine 📮355 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 🕐9:00-17:00 Only for this time of year Cable car🚠Open until 20:30 #0yentrip

📍Oyama Afuri Shrine I took the cable car🚠 to Oyama Afuri Shrine⛩️ The night view from Afuri Shrine was so beautiful! 【INFORMATION】 Oyama Afuri Shrine 📮355 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 🕐9:00-17:00 #0 yen trip

~.Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture~ Oyama Afuri Shrine. (Oyama Afuri Shrine) The night view and autumn leaves seen from Oyama are very beautiful, and it is a recommended spot for autumn leaves in Kanagawa Prefecture. The special autumn goshuin is also made of washi paper and the autumn leaves are cute and recommended. This is the only place where you can see the night view and autumn leaves at the same time! This is a recommended Korean spot in Kanagawa. 📍Spot name Oyama Afuri Shrine Address: Cable car Address 667 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Illumination Business hours Every year around November (weekdays from sunset to 19:00, weekends and holidays from sunset to 20:00) Cost: Cable car round trip Adult: 1,270 yen Children: 640 yen Clothing: Dress warmly! ⚠ Important: Dress warmly! You can walk to the top of the mountain, but the cable car is recommended during the illumination period. #0 yen travel #Oyama Afuri Shrine #Oyama Cafe #japantravel #japantemple #Japanese travel tour

A Hidden Gem in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture! Yumeshintei! On the first floor is Yumeshintei, a dining area, and on the second floor is an art museum and museum. ☑️ Delicious and Healthy Oyama Tofu Dishes! Tofu ramen, kaiseki cuisine, and tofu sweets are highly recommended. ☑️ Enjoyable Art Museum on the Second Floor! Artworks and narrative pieces are on display. The building itself is a cultural property, making it a great spot for architecture enthusiasts as well! ☑️ Beautiful Scenery from the Windows! You can relax with views of the river flowing at the foot of Mount Oyama and the green maple leaves. In autumn, you can also enjoy the fall foliage! A Recommended Spot in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture! It's a place you should visit after praying at Oyama Afuri Shrine!

#Tokyo Attractions Kashiwamushi Ranch is an idyllic paradise where nature and animals coexist closely. Dotted among them are simple wooden shepherd's huts. Looking around, groups of cows and horses are leisurely playing and foraging on the grass. The scenery is peaceful and tranquil. The most attractive thing is to be able to watch and feed these cute animals up close. The staff will enthusiastically guide you on how to feed the cows with the feed in your hand. When the black and white cows see the food, they will rush forward and eat with their big mouths. The docile horses are very friendly. As long as you stroke their silky fur, they will come over to you affectionately and ask for a caress. In this ranch surrounded by nature and animals, slowing down and getting close to the animals is truly a unique and valuable experience. It is worth the trip and will allow you to feel the close connection with nature again.

Located in Isehara, the Hyuga Yakushi spot for red spider lilies can be reached by a 20-minute bus ride from Odakyu Line Isehara Station. Founded in the year 716, Hyuga Yakushi is one of Japan's three famous Yakushi (Buddha of healing) temples and is also an important cultural property and a popular tourist destination. Especially during this period, the red spider lilies are in full bloom, making it one of the few renowned spots for these flowers in the Kanto region. It is also selected as one of the Kanagawa Prefecture's top 100 flower viewing spots, and its beauty is beyond words. Transportation: From the north exit of Odakyu Line Isehara Station, take the Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu bus towards 'Hyuga Yakushi' from bus stop No. 3. Get off at the terminal station (about a 20-minute ride).

📍Oyama Afuri Shrine When you get off the cable car, you will come to the lower shrine of Oyama Afuri Shrine. If you go during the autumn leaves season, you can see a magnificent view! It is one of the 50 scenic spots in Kanagawa, and the magnificent view spreads out all at once and the view was amazing! Pets are allowed 🐶 【INFORMATION】 ⛩️Oyama Afuri Shrine 📮 355 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture #Traveling with Me

Oyama Afuri Shrine has a main shrine and a lower shrine, and the lower shrine can be reached by Oyama Cable Car. The lower shrine is located at an altitude of 696m, and the view from the lower shrine is spectacular! Oyama, also known as "Rainy Mountain", is not only a place to pray for rain and bountiful harvests, but also for prosperous business. Please be sure to visit it 🏔📷🌳

Isehara Daijingu Shrine in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 The guardian shrine of the former Isehara village. Founded during the Genna era (1615-1624). In 1620, Yamada Soemon from Ise Province and Yuasa Seizaemon from Kamakura visited this area on their way to worship at Mt. Oyama. They began cultivating the land and invited the Ise Grand Shrine to worship here. As a result, two shrine buildings, the Outer Shrine and the Inner Shrine, were established within the grounds. Just like at Ise, worshippers visit the Outer Shrine first, then the Inner Shrine. The cherry blossoms covered the entrance to the grounds, and when we entered, we could see even more gorgeous cherry blossoms! If you want to visit, the cherry blossom season is definitely recommended♪ ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Isehara Daijingu ꕥAddress: 12 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉Isehara Station → About 15 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Cherry blossom season #Cherry blossom spots #Visiting shrines #Shrine tours

Oyama Afuri Shrine in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 This shrine is said to have been built in 97 BC during the reign of Emperor Sujin. The lower shrine is located midway up the mountain at an altitude of 696m, and the main shrine is located at the summit at an altitude of 1251.7m! The summit is also known as "Rainy Mountain" because it is often covered by rain clouds. The deity enshrined at Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha Shrine, which regards Mt. Fuji as its sacred object, is Konohana Sakuyahime. At Oyama Afuri Shrine, her father is Oyamazumi-no-Okami. For this reason, visiting only Mt. Fuji is called "one-sided visit," and it is now recommended to visit both shrines! It is possible to climb the mountain from the bottom, but it is also possible to take a cable car to the middle of the mountain where the lower shrine is located. The view from about 700m away is spectacular! In spring, the cherry blossoms in the temple grounds bloom beautifully, creating a gorgeous sight. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥLocation: Oyama Afuri Shrine ꕥAddress: 12 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚠 Oyama Afuri Shrine Station → Oyama Cable Station →About 2 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Oyama Afuri Shrine #Cherry Blossom Spots #Cherry Blossom Season #Shrine Visit

"Saryo Ishison" in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 A cafe located in the grounds of Oyama Afuri Shrine. Inside the teahouse, there are tables and tatami-matted spaces. There is also a terrace, and the view from an altitude of about 700m is amazing! If the weather is good, you can see Sagami Bay, the Boso Peninsula, Izu Oshima, and more. All of the sweets you can enjoy in such a beautiful view are attractive. The most popular is the "Masu Tiramisu". Inside the wooden masu, the sponge cake is flavored with rich mascarpone. Combined with the rich matcha flavor, it feels like an adult sweet. It also comes with cherry blossom🌸 petals, which makes it cute! This is a Japanese-style cafe ☕️ that you definitely want to stop by after visiting the shrine! Menu we ordered: Masu Tiramisu 800 yen Coffee set 500 yen Location: Saryo Ishison Address: 12 Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Access: 🚠 Oyama Afurijinja Station → Oyama Cable Station About 2 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Gourmet #Oyama Afurijinja Shrine #Sweets #Tiramisu #Amazing view #Amazing view spot

#thingstodo Very easily accessible for all ages andability. The train itself is unique in nature. Once you make it to the top, you slide between the shrine and the dinning. It's difficult to find at times. From there it's less than five minutes. Very peaceful and worth the trip. You need to follow miharashida path from the temple to get this fall. 10 min from the temple. It is hard to find the path entrance I asked the lady working there. Alternatively you can descend by following Miharashida trail then follow the temple sign. You will see this fall. However it wasn't that big. I just spent couple of mins there and went back.

#thingstodo One of the best places to visit in autumn. The vibrant colors of the leaves would really take your breath away. Going up, there are two options, hiking or riding the cable car(¥450 one way). Hiking has two options as well, Onna-zaka (easier way) or otoko-zaka (steeper way), both ways would entail walking lots of stairs! The steeper way is less crowded, hence more chances of seeing wild deers! Hiking takes about more or less than an hour depending on pace, it’s most important to take your time and enjoy! There are food stalls selling mochis, coffee, sandwiches, soft cream, noodles and even beer near the shrine. After the shrine, you can go all the way up to the summit of Mt. Oyama which takes about two hours or just get down by walking or by taking cable car.

I visited the main island of Okinawa. It's so fun and beautiful. I want to go again. #Okinawa