Following our travels to Kansai area 3 months back, our journey through Tokyo and its neighbouring cities unfolded at our own pace, thanks to the flexibility of a rental car. Beyond the capital’s dense skyline, we ventured into quieter pockets like Narita, Kawagoe, Yokosuka and Minamiboso, where the scenery shifts into a more relaxed, small-town rhythm. Driving through Japan’s countryside proved to be surprisingly smooth and manageable, with well-maintained roads and clear signage, but the experience takes a different turn once you enter a metropolis like Tokyo — where traffic density, narrow streets, and limited parking can quickly become overwhelming. Parking, in particular, is something to plan for, as fees can be a significant consideration, sometimes reaching up to ¥10,000 per day.
1) [Kamakura] Great Buddha/ Daibutsu
Entrance Fee: 300 Yen
Business Hours: 8 am to 4:45 pm. Opens Daily.
An iconic landmark in Kamakura- the Kamakura’s Daibutsu, is located in the Hase area just outside the main town centre. The large bronze statue sits within the grounds of Kotoku-in Temple, with an open-air setting that gives it a calm and slightly imposing presence, and visitors can even step inside the statue for a small fee (50 Yen). It’s a short drive from central Kamakura, but traffic can get busy during peak hours, so it’s worth allowing some extra time if you’re planning to visit by car.
2) [Kamakura] Owl and Otter Cafe
A brief walk from Kamakura's Daibutsu is the Owl and Otter Cafe. Guests can pay 2,000 Yen as entrance fee and enter the cafe, free unlimited drinks included (from the vending machine). You get to feed the Otter (with a little bait) and pet the Owl on the upper floor. There's also a Pig, a Monkey and a couple of Raccoons inside. This place is suitable for young kids as well as those who adore the cute faces of Otters and Owls. Not exactly a must-visit for tourists but if you do like some animal-therapy in your trip, this place is worth a go.
3) [Kamakura] Komachi Dori Street
Entrance Fee: Free
Beef Croquette (350 Yen)
Premium Matcha Soft Serve (740 Yen)
4-Color Dango (300 Yen)
Komachi Dori Street sits right outside the East Exit of Kamakura Station, stretching towards Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, one of the city’s main landmarks. The street runs parallel to the main road but feels more pedestrian-focused, making it an easy and natural route between the station and the shrine. It’s centrally located within Kamakura, so most attractions are within walking distance, though if you’re driving, traffic around the station area can be slow and parking is fairly limited. The crowd can be overwhelming, especially on weekends or Japanese holiday seasons. Along the way, you will find many Japanese snacks and street foods, a little commercialized and over touristy unfortunately.
4) [Enoshima] Enoshima Island 江の島
Address: Enoshima Island
Limited Edition Seafood Senbei (1,100 Yen)
Shirasu/ Whitebait Fish (500 Yen)
Grilled Sweet Corn (600 Yen)
Grilled Turban Shell (1,700 Yen for 2 pieces)
Grilled Squid (950 Yen)
Boat Transfer (500 Yen/ adult per way)
Enoshima is a small coastal island known for its mix of seaside views, shrine walks, and a slightly touristy but still easy-going atmosphere. It’s a manageable drive from Tokyo, but getting onto the island can be slow due to traffic congestion, and parking near the main areas is quite limited. We parked our car at the Enoshima Public Car Park, which is right across the street to the Enoshima business district. There are plenty of restaurants along the main street, mainly selling Japanese-styled seafood. Keep walking and there are Shrines, restaurants and various tourist spots. Quite a long walk but if you have difficulties in walking long distance, they do offer Escalator services for a fee (like less than 500 Yen per pax). It will also speed up your journey too. Follow the path and the crowd, you will end up at the coast with a sea view. From there, you can take the ferry boat back to the entrance of the island (500 Yen per way per adult) and we strongly recommend this. Not only it saves your energy, but it also saves your time for the return trip. If you are taking the public transportation, expect to set aside one full day for a day trip to Enoshima (half a day if you are driving).
For food, Enoshima is famous for its Shirasu or commonly known as Whitebait Fish. You can find many restaurants or street food vendors offering the delicacy- whether cooked or raw. Another popular choice would be the freshly cooked Senbei, right before the flight of stairs to the Shrine. They have limited edition Senbei, which can be fancy and good for photography. Sharing is definitely recommended as the Senbei comes in huge portion. If budget permits, go for the grilled Shelldish like Grilled Turban Shell, said to be unique from Enoshima.
5) [Narita] Kawatoyo Honten Narita 川豊本店
Business Hours: 11 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily.
Website: Kawatoyo Website
Extra Large Unagi Rice (6,200 Yen)
A short drive away from Narita International Airport, Narita town offers a more traditional setting with its old streets leading up to the temple area. Along this stretch, Kawatoyo Honten stands out as a long-running spot known for its freshly prepared unagi, grilled over charcoal with a slightly sweet soy-based glaze. It is common to find this place over-crowded, expect to wait at least 20 minutes before getting a table (in our case- 30 minutes). There is a specialist right outside the restaurant, slicing the Eel, showcasing how fresh the Eels can be. The restaurant only serves ONE dish- Unagi. The only difference is the serving size. We must say the Unagi was very delicious- amazingly soft with a barbecue aroma, as well as a hint of sweetness from the soy glaze. Kawatoyo is a restaurant that withstood the test of time, established for more than 100 years. Not only the place attracts tourists but it is very popular amongst the local Japanese as well.
6) [Minamiboso] Nojima Saki Lighthouse
Entrance Fee: 300 Yen
Business Hours: 9 am to 12 pm; 1 pm to 4:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Nojima Saki Lighthouse
At the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, Nojimazaki Lighthouse stands facing the open sea, known for its clean white structure and unobstructed coastal views. Pay 300 Yen and you will get to go in but be warned on the narrow steps, as you will need to traipse the stairs up to the top. You will be rewarded with breath-taking views overlooking the coast (and of course, the strong sea breeze). Just in front, the park offers a spacious, easy-going setting with walking paths and benches, making it a comfortable stop to take a break and enjoy the surroundings while driving through the area.
7) [Minamiboso] Kimura Peanuts Minamiboso
Business Hours: 9 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily.
Peanut Soft Serve (350 Yen)
Kimura Peanuts is a well-known local stop in Minamiboso, best known for its peanut-based products, reflecting Chiba’s reputation as one of Japan’s top peanut-producing regions. The space combines a shop and casual café, where you can pick up souvenirs or try items like Peanut Soft Serve. The Peanut Soft Serve was creamy and not cloyingly sweet with a bold nutty flavor. Definitely worth stopping by for a quick, icy sweet treat.
8) [Tateyama] Tateyama Nagisa Cafeteria
Anago Tempura Gozen (3,300 Yen)
Buttered Oyster Gozen (2,680 Yen)
Oyster Furai (700 Yen)
Tateyama sits along the southern coast of Chiba and offers a slower, more relaxed contrast to Tokyo, known for its coastal drives, mild climate, and open sea views. It’s not packed with major attractions, but that’s part of the appeal — a place where you take it easy, stop by quiet beaches, and enjoy the scenery at your own pace. The Tateyama Nagisa Cafeteria is one of the few spots in Tateyama that you should not miss. The cafe sits right in front of the coast and offers a good selection of Japanese delights and Western options. Being a coastal city, Tateyama is known for its seafood too and you can find some of them in the cafe. The servings are huge here so do order accordingly. If the weather fits, you can also request to be seated outside at the al-fresco dining area where you get to enjoy the sea breeze while enjoying the food.
9) [Kurihama] Tokyo-Wan Car Ferry
Ferry Fee: 5,400 Yen per way (including 1 driver)
Tokyo-Wan Car Ferry
Taking the Tokyo Wan Ferry is one of the more straightforward ways to travel between Minamiboso and Yokosuka, especially if you’re driving. The ferry departs from Kanaya Port on the Chiba side and arrives at Kurihama Port in Yokosuka, with the journey taking about 40 minutes across Tokyo Bay. Tickets can be purchased on-site, and vehicles can be driven directly onto the ferry, making it a convenient option compared to a much longer land route. While the process is generally smooth and well-organised, it’s still worth checking the schedule in advance as departures are limited and can vary depending on weather conditions. For price benchmarking- we drove a Toyota Prius and needed to pay 5,400 Yen (including the driver) for a one-way trip. An additional passenger costs 1,100 Yen.
10) [Yokosuka] Don's Restaurant
Business Hours: 11 am to 3 pm on every Tuesday, 11 am to 8 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Blue Crab Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce Course Meal (2,260 Yen)
Gorgonzola Pizza Course Meal (2,260 Yen)
Panna Cotta
English Tea
Tateishi Park in Yokosuka is a small coastal park best known for its scenic view of the Tateishi rock formation set against the sea. It’s an easy stop for a short stroll. A short walking distance from the Tateishi Park is Don's Restaurant, a long-established Western restaurant with Italian focus. The restaurant has been around since 1978 and known to many for its signature Pasta and Pizza dishes. The restaurant overlooks the Akiya beach and has ample car park right outside the restaurant. Tables by the window are not easy to get by but there are plenty of dining tables at the 2-storey restaurant. The course meal offers better values with appetizer, dessert and Coffee/Tea.
The signature dish is the Blue Crab Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce. We enjoyed the expertly cooked Spaghetti with bold Tomato flavored Cream Sauce. It has a hint of crustacean flavor but not overpowering. The Gorgonzola Pizza was good too- the Pizza dough was addictively soft and pillowy; they did not skimp on the Italian Blue Cheese. Spot on flavor but the pungent, bold Gorgonzola is not for everyone. Don's Restaurant is indeed a good spot to experience the Japanese-Western menu, with an amazing sea view.
11) [Yokosuka] Toromugi Yokosuka at More's City
Business Hours: 11 am to 9 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Fried Prawn Tororo Soba and Minced Tuna with Spring Onion Don Set (1,936 Yen)
Rose Katsu and Tororo Rice Set (2,156 Yen)
Strategically located in Yokohama's More's City mall, Toromugi is a popular chain restaurant in Japan and can be found in major cities. The brand specializes in Tororo (grated mountain Yam) dishes; be it served with Rice or Soba. We were most intrigued with the Soba combo; we were pleasantly surprised by the bouncy texture of the Soba and how the broth worked magically well with the buckwheat noodles and grated Mountain Yam. I like mine with a little Wasabi. The order came with a bowl of minced Tuna Don which was delicious. My better half had the Rose Katsu and thought it was really good too. Super generous portion with reasonable prices; do check it out if you happen to see a branch of Toromugi.
12) [Yokohama] Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
Business Hours: 11 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Shio Ramen (1,200 Yen/ regular)
Yaki-Shoyu Ramen (1,200 Yen/ regular)
Right in the heart of Yokohama city, Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum offers a slightly different take on a typical food stop, combining dining with a themed, almost nostalgic experience. Opened in 1994 as the world’s first ramen-themed “food amusement park,” it brings together well-known ramen shops from across Japan under one roof, set within a detailed recreation of a 1950s Tokyo streetscape.
Visitors can explore exhibits on the history and culture of ramen before heading underground to sample different regional styles, making it less about just a single meal and more about trying a variety in one setting. Some restaurants can be really popular with long queues but all of them sell the same thing- Ramen... with different toppings and broth of course. Some are region-specific or exclusive flavors; so Ramen-lovers do need to do a little research before deciding which one to go. We randomly picked one and thought it was quite good. Do not miss the instant Ramen lab on first floor- where you get to customize your very own instant Ramen and get your photo printed. We found it really engaging and fun to explore.
13) [Tokyo] Edoniku Kappo Sasaya Asakusa
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Special Beef Course Set (6,598 Yen/ 2 pax)
Edoniku Kappo Sasaya Asakusa is a relatively new addition to Asakusa, opening in late 2025 and reviving the legacy of a long-standing meat kappo concept with a focus on traditional Gyunabe and Sukiyaki. Just a short walk from Asakusa Station, the restaurant leans into a nostalgic Edo-era theme, serving diced beef hotpot cooked in iron pots, with a sweeter, miso-based profile that reflects the early origins of Sukiyaki. The experience feels slightly more curated than your typical hotpot spot, with table-side preparation. If you are not fond of sweet food or sugary stuff, this place is not for you as they do pour plenty of Sugar into cooking the meat (even myself found it way too sweet for my sugar tolerance level). Prices sit around the mid-range for Tokyo, but the appeal lies more in the concept and presentation rather than just the meal itself.
14) [Tokyo] Ueno Park
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s most popular spots during cherry blossom season, especially with the annual Ueno Sakura Matsuri held from mid-March to early April. The park is lined with over a thousand sakura trees, creating a nice canopy along the main walkway, and it gets very lively with people gathering for picnics, food stalls, and night illuminations. It can be quite crowded, but that’s also part of the experience, giving you a glimpse of how locals enjoy the season together.
15) [Tokyo] Cafe L'Occitane Shibuya
Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Strawberry and Lavendar Parfait (1,980 Yen)
Beef and Mashed Potato Gratin with Bread (1,880 Yen)
Salad Set (600 Yen)
Cafe L'Occitane Shibuya sits right above the bustling Shibuya crossing and it is one of the rare Cafe L'Occitane worldwide. Brand-aside, the location does give the cafe the advantage. For those who are seated right next to the window- they will get to see the city's rhythm in action. The cafe has 2 floors and often very busy. During our visit, we had to wait for approximately 20 minutes before we could get our table. The menu is limited but it is not so much about the food, more for the experience-type of cafe. None of the dishes disappoint- with bold French characteristics. You can find some exclusive L'Occitane products (to Japan or Shibuya) at the retail on ground floor, be sure to spare some time to check it out if you happen to be in Shibuya.
16) [Kawagoe] Kurazukuri Street/ Warehouse District
Two Color Sweet Potato Chips with Sauce (600 Yen)
Imo-Koi (300 Yen)
Grilled Minced Chicken with Salt (600 Yen)
Kawagoe Bell Tower
Approximately 1 hour drive away from Tokyo city, Kawagoe is known as the Little Edo thanks to its well-preserved Edo-period district known as the Kurazukuri Street. It is often being seen as the perfect destination for a one-day trip outside of Tokyo. There are other attractions in Kawagoe but Kurazukuri Street is one that you should never miss (in Kawagoe). The crowd can be overwhelming on certain days so my recommendation is to go there as early in the day as possible. Along Kurazukuri Street, you will find the historic Bell Tower and various note-worthy street food. The Little Edo town is also famous for its Sweet Potato so expect to see an array of Sweet Potato-related street food like Chips, Steamed Sweet Potato etc. For those who are driving- it is not difficult to find a parking space and the fees are not that expensive as compared to Tokyo city.
Have Fun Exploring Tokyo and its neighbourhood!
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