TRAVEL Escapes

Kanagawa

This region is known for its mountains, rivers and sea as well as for being close to Japan’s capital. A tourist attraction in the area is Ōwakudani, a volcanic valley in Hakone. You can walk along the trail into the volcanic zone with numerous steam vents and bubbling pools. The views from here are to die for. A popular touristy thing to do is eat a boiled egg that’s cooked in the hot spring pools. Still in Hakone, you can enjoy a sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi with a view of the nearby mountains and Mount Fuji. Located in Kamakura, the Kōtoku-in Temple is known for its Great Buddha, a 13-metre bronze statue that stayed up even during a tsunami in the 15th century. Also, in Kamakura, you will find Hōkoku-ji Temple, popular for its spectacular bamboo garden and a tea house where you can enjoy matcha green tea while taking in the surrounding views. Yokohama, the prefecture’s capital, has some interesting things to see and do. The CupNoodles Museum Yokohama, located in Minato Mirai 21, features exhibitions about instant noodles and hands-on workshops. Yokohama Chinatown, one of the biggest in the world, has numerous restaurants and food shops to try. Yamashita Park is a popular place to relax and take a walk while enjoying waterfront views of the Port of Yokohama. Sankei-en Garden in Naka Ward, a large traditional Japanese-style garden with ponds, streams and undulating pathways, is a favourite destination too.

Okinawa

A group of islands located at the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago, close to Taiwan. Compared to the rest of Japan, winter in Okinawa is pleasantly warm, with temperatures of around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Home to magnificent beaches and coastlines teaming with corals and other underwater life, if you enjoy the tranquillity of spending some winter time by the sea, this is the ideal destination. Manza Beach, near Ishikawa, is well-known and, though it’s part of a resort, it’s open to the general public too. The 300-metre sandy stretch offers ample space to sunbathe or relax with family or friends. You can still enjoy water activities such as swimming, snorkelling and diving in December for those willing to embrace chillier water temperatures. Most tour companies offer wetsuit rentals.

Other shores to watch out for include Furuzamami Beach, a popular snorkelling destination, in addition to offering other beach activities; Zanpa Beach, which is said to be one of the best for swimming even during low tide; Aharen Beach, which is budget-friendly and good for snorkelling; and Aragusuku Beach, known for its stunning coral reefs. Don’t miss the chance to take in the blue expanse standing atop Cape Manzamo, a distinctive rock formation, listening to the waves crashing against its walls. The place is located near Onna Village in the Kunigami District of Okinawa Prefecture.

Other attractions include Okinawa World a theme park in Nanjo, where you can explore the Gyokusendō, a massive, five-kilometre-long limestone cave, and sample the local snake-infused medicinal drink, habushu. In Naha, the district capital, you can explore traditional cuisine at Makishi Public Market, dubbed by the locals as the ‘Kitchen of Okinawa’.

An erstwhile tributary state of imperial Ming China, Okinawa is known for its native Ryūkyūan culture, which is distinctly different from the mainland. Its cuisine is influenced by Chinese cooking styles. Okinawan soba is quite popular and made using flour rather than the traditional buckwheat. Gōyā Chanpurū, a stir-fry dish of bitter melon combined with eggs and tofu, is another staple.