Kanto is full of surprises. Just beyond Tokyo’s dense skyline, a unique kind of creativity flourishes, one shaped by rolling hills, quiet lakes, and innovative spaces where art and nature coexist. In Chiba and Gunma prefectures, these worlds come together in unexpected ways, from sustainable farms dotted with contemporary sculptures to museums where nature seamlessly blends with exhibition spaces. Whether it’s a hands-on experience at an eco-friendly art farm or an architectural masterpiece that doubles as a hotel, these destinations prove that inspiration thrives in the most unexpected places.

The traditional crafts live and breathe in and around the Tokyo area. The origins vary from religious symbols to architectural designs to just pure enjoyment. The exploration of the endless creativity behind Japanese crafts can take you on a journey to discover some of the wonderful towns and cities beyond the capital, deepening your appreciation of Japanese culture as a whole. Let's visit five fascinating places in and around Tokyo where tradition meets creativity in the craft world.

Japan feels different when you stop chasing checklists and start borrowing from everyday life. Across Kanto, there are places where the border between “visitor” and “local” softens: a former elementary school reborn as a community hub, a temple that doubles as a soul-reboot button, a farmhouse where river fish go straight from pond to irori, a classroom where you become the transfer student for a day, and a cat café where you can design a good-luck charm at your own pace. These attractions are spaces where staying overnight, cooking, training, meditating, or simply chatting becomes part of the experience. “Beyond travel” here means learning how people live, eat, and practice their traditions, and carrying some of that depth home with you.

The quality of the food and drink made in Japan are not simply a goal, but a way of life. Even in the most extraordinary restaurants and breweries in Japan, you may not find Michelin stars, but you will discover culinary craftspeople dedicated to protecting and improving the traditional methods that have produced cuisine of superior quality for centuries. From historic restaurants maintaining the Aizu food culture of northern Japan to shops perfecting the production of the humble senbei (rice cracker), the commitment of small businesses to the flavors of traditional Japan is unchanging over time. You'll find many of these establishments operating outside of central Tokyo; fortunately, the network of public transportation, with the JR East train lines as the backbone, gives visitors to Tokyo quick and easy access to most of them.

Tokyo is a city of contrasts, yet its spiritual side doesn't leap immediately to mind when you consider this vast urban metropolis. Yet, from the mountains guarding the city's western flank to its bayside bustling with the busyness of modern life, Tokyo's spiritual side is deep and ancient. Neighboring Saitama, too, has grown up on the heels of its more famous neighbor, but deep in its rugged mountains, you'll still find ancient landmarks of Japan's Shinto and Buddhist religions. Take a few steps off the beaten path to explore another side of Tokyo and Saitama and discover the spiritual roots that run deep around the Tokyo area.

Stretched across a distance of 495 kilometres (307 miles), the Tokaido was one of the Five Routes developed during the Edo period, connecting Nihombashi in Edo (present-day Tokyo) to Sanjo Ohashi in Kyoto. 53 post towns were established along the Pacific Coast of Honshu to form the region’s main transportation artery. Following Tokugawa Ieyasu’s change of political base to Edo in 1590, the shogunate established a publication, transportation and communications system in 1601. To ensure efficient travel and logistics, horses and porters relayed officials, documents, and goods from one post town to the next. Travelers kept track of their journey through distance markers at regular intervals along the route. The Tokaido runs through the areas now known as Tokyo and Kanagawa. Between Miya-juku and Kuwana-juku post towns, transportation was supplemented by a sea route known as Shichiri no Watashi, which crossed the estuary where the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi rivers flow into the sea. In present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, nine post towns were located between Kawasaki-juku and Hakone-juku, making this section an especially busy and important transportation corridor. Travelers could enjoy coastal scenery along the way, before entering the rugged mountains of Hakone, west of Odawara. As a former resident of Tochigi Prefecture and current resident of Tokyo, there is no better way to deepen my understanding of the Kanto region I call home than to travel along sections of the Tokaido. So, I decided to undertake a journey over three days. I mentally placed myself in the steps of my ancestors, reimagining the story from Nihombashi to Hakone through curious and modern eyes.

A Winter Journey of Flowers, Prayer, and Living Culture

An Edo-Style Circular Journey Traced through Woodblock Ukiyo-e Prints

Hakone, Odawara, Nihonbashi. Where Tradition and Contemporary Art Intersect

A Refreshing Route Journey of Clear Streams and History

A Spring Journey Linking Edo Culture and the Ancient Capital