Kanagawa — Many Worlds, One Prefecture

Yokohama's most beloved snack — small, perfectly seasoned steamed pork dumplings sold cold as ekiben (train bento) since 1908. Pick up a box at Yokohama Station and eat them like a local: cold, no dipping sauce needed.

Born in Yokohama in 1974 at Yoshimuraya — a thick, rich blend of pork-bone broth and soy sauce, served with flat noodles, spinach, nori, and a slab of chashu. Hundreds of iekei shops now span all of Japan, but the originals are here.

A bowl of steaming rice blanketed in fresh raw or par-boiled whitebait (tiny sardine fry), caught right off the Shonan coast. Best eaten at a seafood restaurant overlooking Enoshima island or along the Kamakura beachfront.

Japan's largest and most famous Chinatown — over 600 restaurants and food stalls packed into a few blocks. Go for dim sum at lunch, roast pork steamed buns fresh from the window, and elaborate Cantonese dinners. Open every day.

Japan's most iconic outdoor statue — a 13.35 m bronze Amida Buddha cast in 1252 and sitting serenely in the open air. You can walk inside the hollow statue for a small extra fee. Arrive before 09:00 to beat the crowds.

Yokohama's glittering waterfront district — the 296 m Landmark Tower, Cosmo Clock 21 ferris wheel, Aka Renga red-brick warehouses, Cup Noodles Museum, and the Yokohama Museum of Art, all within a 20-minute walk of each other.

On a clear day, the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine rises from the water with Mt Fuji perfectly framed behind it. Take the pirate ship cruise across the lake, then walk to the shrine through a cedar forest. One of Japan's most photographed views.

An active volcanic valley that steams and hisses dramatically — you can buy kuro-tamago (black eggs hard-boiled in the sulphur springs, said to add 7 years to your life). The Hakone Ropeway glides right over it for aerial views. Occasionally closed due to volcanic activity.

A small island connected to the mainland by a 600 m bridge — walk up through the covered shopping street to the Sea Candle lighthouse for panoramic Shonan coast views, then descend to the Iwaya sea caves. The Enoshima Aquarium is nearby.

Kamakura's most important Shinto shrine, founded in 1063 and the spiritual heart of the old samurai capital. The long approach lined with cherry trees (sakura in spring, autumn foliage in November) leads to a striking vermilion main hall on the hill.

A beautifully restored white castle keep on the edge of Odawara city — the historical seat of the powerful Hojo clan. The castle grounds double as a cherry blossom park in April. It's 5 minutes from Odawara Station, a natural stop on the way to Hakone.

Japan's largest Chinatown — 600+ restaurants, food stalls, and shops packed into a vibrant few blocks. The ornate Kanteibyo temple sits at the heart. Best visited at lunch for dim sum or in the evening when the lanterns glow and the aroma of roast meat fills every alley.