Kyonan
Around Kyonan
The town just south of Mt. Nokogiri (Nokogiriyama) is Kyonan. It is a place of Yoritomo legends, and is also known as a town of flowers.
Kyonan was formed in 1959 by merging the castle town of Katsuyama and the port town of Hota. The name “Kyonan” means “south of the saw mountain”. Located at the gateway to Minamiboso, it has two fishing ports, Katsuyama and Hota, where fresh fish and shellfish are landed every morning.
Minamoto no Yoritomo, defeated in battle by the Taira clan, is said to have landed here to plan his comeback. The Yoritomo Festival is held every October, and the Yoritomo cherry blossoms are at their best from February to March.
Mt. Nokogiri
Mt. Nokogiri, the origin of the town's name
Mt. Nokogiri rises on the border between Futtsu and Kyonan, at the western end of the Kiyosumi mountains. Its jagged, saw-tooth ridge has long served as a landmark for ships entering Tokyo Bay. With sweeping views over the sea of Minamiboso, the mountain can be reached by ropeway or by car.
The Great Buddha of Nihonji, the largest seated stone Buddha in Japan, and Jigoku Nozoki (“Hell Peek”) are well worth seeing.
Read our English guide to Mt. Nokogiri
Nokogiriyama Ropeway
The ropeway makes it easy to reach the 329.5 m summit, where the Jusshu Ichiran-dai lookout offers 360-degree views.
Regular: 9:00–17:00 (16 February to 15 November)
Winter: 9:00–16:00 (16 November to 15 February)
* Extended hours in summer
[Access] About 5 minutes by car from Yuumi Sauna Cafe
[Details] Nokogiriyama Ropeway official site
Flowers
A town of flowers
With its mild climate, Kyonan is also known as a town where flowers bloom all year round. Japanese daffodils begin to bloom from December, followed by the Yoritomo (Kawazu) cherry blossoms, and in spring the Somei-Yoshino cherries.
Spots
Highlights
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Nokogiriyama Museum of Art
Exhibits works on the theme of “Kanaya, a town of stone and art”, with special exhibitions rooted in the local community held regularly.
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Misaki, a cafe of music and coffee
As its name suggests, this cafe stands on a cape (misaki) at the foot of Mt. Nokogiri, and was the model for the film “Fushigi na Misaki no Monogatari” (The Tale of the Mysterious Cape). Coffee time in a retro atmosphere, gazing out over the wide sea, is pure bliss.
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Michi-no-Eki Furari Tomiyama
A recommended spot lined with local specialities, farm produce and seasonal flavours. It is also the highway bus stop “Highway Oasis Furari”; if you come by bus we will pick you up there (from 14:30, advance reservation required).
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Michi-no-Eki Hota Shogakko
The former Hota Elementary School, its days as a school over, has been reborn as a roadside station. The building keeps the feel of a primary school and houses a farmers' market, accommodation, restaurants and more.
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Oyama Senmaida rice terraces
The closest rice terraces to Tokyo, where rice is still grown today amid a nostalgic rural landscape. Enjoy the scenery of each season: the breeze over the paddies at planting time, the golden waves of the harvest, the rows of red spider lilies. In autumn the terraces host the torch-lit “Tanada no Yomatsuri” night festival and the “Tanada no Akari” illuminations.
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Strawberry picking
Enjoy it over a long season from January to early May. There are many strawberry farms near us as well.
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Okuzure Daffodil Village
Around 10 million daffodils blooming across the mountainside are a spectacular sight.
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Daffodil Road
From late December to January, hundreds of thousands of daffodils bloom along the roadside slopes.
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Momiji Road
Prefectural Route 182 is known as “Momiji Road” for its roughly 10 km of autumn foliage: the latest autumn colours in the Kanto region, lasting until around mid-December.
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Tokyo-Wan Ferry (Kanaya Port)
The Tokyo-Wan Ferry links Kurihama Port in Yokosuka with Kanaya Port in 40 minutes each way, and is recommended both as transport and as sightseeing. Departures roughly once an hour except at night. A sea crossing makes a lovely change of scene.
Kinokuniya Group
KINOKUNIYA GROUP
The Awa Onsen Kinokuniya Group. Choose from inns and facilities, each with its own character, to suit the purpose of your trip. Group website
