10 Early Morning and Late-Night Tourist Activities in the Southern Tokyo Area
When you visit Japan, in addition to experiencing the seasonal beauty the country has to offer, taking in the unique aspects of Japan's culture and architecture is a must. To make the most of your trip, it's also a good idea to wake up early or stay out late to experience a different side of this amazing country.
Experience the best that the Greater Tokyo Area has to offer - a bath in a Hakone hot spring, an early morning hike up Mount Oyama, the historic Yokohama at night, and fresh seafood and outdoor hot springs in Miura Peninsula - when you start from Ota City, home to Haneda Airport and an area where Japanese tradition lives. There are many things to do around Haneda Airport, where many travelers start their journey, and in the nearby Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo. Keep reading this article for ten early morning and late-night activities that will help you make the most of your time in the country. Enjoy your time in Japan to the fullest!
Use the numbers on the map below as a reference as you read through the article.
Early Morning Activities
1) Check out the lively Ota Market auction
When you search for information on outdoor markets, Toyosu and Tsukiji are sure to pop up, but Ota Market can't be beaten. Fresh produce, seafood, and flowers can all be found here, with the most extensive selection of produce and flowers available in Japan. There are exhibit rooms in the market along with tour courses, though anyone can explore the market on their own. If you visit early in the morning, you'll be able to see a lively auction taking place before grabbing a delicious breakfast.
Name: Central Wholesale Market - Ota Market
Address: 3-2-1 Tokai, Ota City, Tokyo
Location: From the East Exit of JR Omori Station, take the Keikyu Bus bound for Ota Market for 20 minutes.
2) Jog along the Tama River
If you spend the night at the Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel, you'll be able to enjoy an approximately 9km morning jog when you wake up. The jog along Tama River from the hotel to Rokugo Bridge and back is mostly flat terrain. If you cross Rokugo Bridge and run all the way to Haneda Airport, you'll be able to watch the airplanes as they land and take off.
Name: Kawasaki King Skyfront Tokyu REI Hotel
Address: 3-25-11 Tonomachi, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa
Location: A 15-minute walk from Kojimashinden Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line
3) Hike up Mount Oyama
Mount Oyama is a well-known mountain where people go for spiritual refreshment. If you start the climb first thing in the morning, you're sure to have a refreshing hiking experience. People have climbed this mountain for worship purposes since the Edo Period (1603-1868), so the Mount Oyama pilgrimage has been designated as a Japan Heritage experience that can still be had today. The view from Oyama Afuri-jinja Shrine was featured as a two-star location in Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Name: Mount Oyama
Address: Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa
Location: From the Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line, take the Kanachu Bus for approximately 30 minutes and get off at the Oyama-Cable bus stop. From there, it's an approximately 15-minute walk to Mount Oyama.
Photos provided by: Isehara Tourist Association
4) Enjoy fresh fish at Misaki Harbor
Misaki in the Miura Peninsula is known for its tuna. Anywhere from 400 to 1,000 frozen tuna fish are sold per day at the Misaki Fish Market attached to the harbor. Anyone can visit the general area on the second floor of the market for free and watch the tuna auction in action. Also, be sure to enjoy a seafood breakfast featuring tuna and fresh locally caught fish at the Fish Market Cafeteria!
Name: Misaki Fish Market (Miura City Misaki Seafood Regional Wholesale Market)
Address: 5-245-7 Misaki, Miura City, Kanagawa
Location: From the Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Line, take the Keikyu Bus for approximately 15 minutes and get off at the Misakiko bus stop. From there, it's an approximately 5-minute walk to Misaki Fish Market.
5) Take a refreshing stroll along Yamashita Rinko Line Promenade
This promenade where you can see all of Yokohama's famous spots in one place is connected to Yamashita Park and Nihon-odori Street. You'll be able to see Minato Mirai, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building, the Yokohama Customs Building, as well as large cruise ships stopped at Osanbashi Terminal. There usually aren't too many other people around early in the morning, so enjoy the fresh air and take in the history and architecture of Yokohama's bay area at your own pace.
Name: Yamashita Rinko Line Promenade
Address: 1 Kaigan-dori, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Location: A 5-minute walk from Nihon-odori Station on the Minatomirai Line
Photos provided by: Yokohama Visitors Guide
Night Activities
6) Visit a jazz cafe
Ota City has a nostalgic, eighties vibe that you can experience at many locations throughout town. One of the retro aspects we recommend checking out is a jazz cafe. Chokuritsu Enjin (a.k.a. Pithecanthropus Erectus) is a long-standing jazz cafe in Kamata that only opens at night. Enjoy a cup of coffee or an alcoholic beverage as you chill out and listen to some good music.
Name: Chokuritsu Enjin (Pithecanthropus Erectus)
Address: 7-61-8 Nishi-Kamata, Ota City, Tokyo
Location: A 5-minute walk from Kamata Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line or Tokyu Tamagawa Line or Ikegami Line
7) Spend the night in luxury at The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu
The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu is located in the heart of Minato Mirai. Most of the rooms come with a balcony, so you can enjoy the breeze from the bay as you overlook the lights of the Yokohama. In addition, you can savor a variety of Japanese, western, and Chinese food at the hotel restaurant and bar lounge. It's also possible to request in-room dining and enjoy a meal in privacy as you overlook the city.
Name: The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu
Address: 2-3-7 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Location: A 1-minute walk from Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line
8) Relax at Hakone Yuryo, a folk house-style hot spring
Hakone Yuryo is a free three-minute shuttle bus ride from Hakone-Yumoto Station. There are 19 private outdoor baths - the most in the Greater Tokyo Area - at this hot spring facility, along with an indoor bath and a large outdoor bath. Watch as charcoal-grilled dishes are prepared before your very eyes at the irori fireplace in the restaurant. A stay at Hakone Yuryo is a great way to wrap up a day spent exploring Hakone.
Name: Hakone Yuryo
Address: 4 Tonosawa, Hakone Town, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa
Location: 3 minutes by free shuttle bus from Hakone-Yumoto Station on the Hakone Tozan Line
9) Refresh at Aburatsubo Hot Springs
Take in the lights of Koajiro Bay as you bathe outdoors at Aburatsubo Hot Springs. The natural spring water used for the baths contains sodium, so it's difficult to cool down. This hypertonic therapeutic spring water will permeate your skin easily, so even a quick dip in the tub will warm you up. Minerals that will leave your skin glowing are found in the water as well. Recover from your day with a well-deserved rest in a natural hot spring.
Name: Aburatsubo Hot Springs - Hotel Keikyu Aburatsubo Kanchoso
Address: 1152 Koajiro, Misakimachi, Miura City, Kanagawa
Location: From the Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Line, take the Keikyu Bus for approximately 13 minutes and get off at the Aburatsubo bus stop. From there, it's an approximately 4-minute walk to Hotel Keikyu Aburatsubo Kanchoso.
10) Barhop in Noge, where delicacies await
Five hundred establishments are packed into a 0.1km² space in Noge, Yokohama's greatest bar district. From comfortable Japanese-style pubs to unique bars, you can find plenty of spots with delicious offerings. Most of the bars are reasonably priced, so anyone can have a great night out here. If you want to experience Noge like the locals do, try visiting 2 or 3 shops for an hour each to have a fun night of bar hopping!
Name: Noge District
Address: 2 Noge-cho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Location: A 1-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line, or a 10-minute walk from Bashamichi Station on the Minatomirai Line, or a 6-minute walk from Hinodecho Station on the Keikyu Line.
Itineraries
*The Tokyu and Keikyu itineraries start from the evening of the previous day.
*The transportation times listed do not include any transfer times or time it takes to walk from the train station or bus stop to the destination. Transportation times may change depending on traffic or other conditions.
If you make the most of the early morning and nighttime, you'll be able to experience things outside of the ordinary and take your time exploring! We hope that you'll be able to use this article as inspiration when creating your travel plan and that you will be able to enjoy your Japan experience to the fullest!
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