
is a
prefecture
A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...
of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
located in the
Kantō region
The is a geography, geographical region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. In a common definition, the region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures of Japan, prefectures: Chiba Prefecture, Chiba, Gunma Prefe ...
of
Honshu
, historically known as , is the largest of the four main islands of Japan. It lies between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west). It is the list of islands by area, seventh-largest island in the world, and the list of islands by ...
. Kanagawa Prefecture is the
second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-densest at . Its geographic area of makes it fifth-smallest. Kanagawa Prefecture borders
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
to the north,
Yamanashi Prefecture to the northwest and
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Pref ...
to the west.
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
is the capital and largest city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the
second-largest city in Japan, with other major cities including
Kawasaki,
Sagamihara, and
Fujisawa. Kanagawa Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern
Pacific coast on
Tokyo Bay
is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan spanning the coasts of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture, on the southern coast of the island of Honshu. Tokyo Bay is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Uraga Channel. Th ...
and
Sagami Bay, separated by the
Miura Peninsula, across from
Chiba Prefecture on the
Bōsō Peninsula. Kanagawa Prefecture is part of the
Greater Tokyo Area, the most populous
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban area, urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share Industry (economics), industries, commercial areas, Transport infrastructure, transport network ...
in the world, with Yokohama and many of its cities being major commercial hubs and southern
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
s of Tokyo. Kanagawa Prefecture was the political and economic center of Japan during the
Kamakura period
The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
when
Kamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
was the
de facto capital and largest city of Japan as the seat of the
Kamakura shogunate from 1185 to 1333. Kanagawa Prefecture is a popular tourist area in the Tokyo region, with Kamakura and
Hakone being two popular side trip destinations.
History
The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the
Jōmon period
In Japanese history, the is the time between , during which Japan was inhabited by the Jōmon people, a diverse hunter-gatherer and early agriculturalist population united by a common culture, which reached a considerable degree of sedentism an ...
(around 400 BCE). About 3,000 years ago,
Mount Hakone produced a volcanic explosion which resulted in
Lake Ashi on the western area of the prefecture.
It is believed that the
imperial dynasty ruled this area from the 5th century onwards. In the
ancient era, its plains were very sparsely inhabited.
In medieval Japan, Kanagawa was part of the provinces of
Sagami and
Musashi.
Kamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
in central Sagami was the capital of Japan during the
Kamakura period
The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...
(1185–1333).
During the
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
, the western part of Sagami Province was governed by the ''
daimyō
were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji era, Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and no ...
'' of
Odawara Castle, while the eastern part was directly governed by the
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868.
The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...
in
Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
Commodore Matthew Perry landed in Kanagawa in 1853 and 1854 and signed the
Convention of Kanagawa to force open Japanese ports to the United States.
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
, the largest deep-water port in
Tokyo Bay
is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan spanning the coasts of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture, on the southern coast of the island of Honshu. Tokyo Bay is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Uraga Channel. Th ...
, was opened to foreign traders in 1859 after several more years of foreign pressure, and eventually developed into the largest trading port in Japan. Nearby
Yokosuka, closer to the mouth of Tokyo Bay, developed as a naval port and now serves as headquarters for the
U.S. 7th Fleet and the fleet operations of the
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. After the
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
, many foreigners lived in Yokohama City, and visited
Hakone. The
Meiji government
The was the government that was formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain and Chōshū Domain in the 1860s. The Meiji government was the early government of the Empire of Japan.
Politicians of the Meiji government were known as the Meiji ...
developed the first railways in Japan, from
Shinbashi (in Tokyo) to Yokohama in 1872.
The epicenter of the
1923 Great Kantō earthquake was deep beneath
Izu Ōshima Island in Sagami Bay. It devastated Tokyo, the port city of
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
, surrounding prefectures of
Chiba,
Kanagawa, and
Shizuoka, and caused widespread damage throughout the
Kantō region
The is a geography, geographical region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. In a common definition, the region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures of Japan, prefectures: Chiba Prefecture, Chiba, Gunma Prefe ...
. The sea receded as much as 400 metres from the shore at
Manazuru Point, and then rushed back towards the shore in a great wall of water which swamped Mitsuishi-shima. At
Kamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
, the total death toll from earthquake, tsunami, and fire exceeded 2,000 victims. At
Odawara, ninety percent of the buildings collapsed immediately, and subsequent fires burned the rubble along with anything else left standing.
Yokohama,
Kawasaki, and other major cities were heavily damaged by the U.S. bombing in 1945. Total casualties amounted to more than several thousand. After the war, General
Douglas MacArthur, the
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers for the
Occupation of Japan, landed in Kanagawa, before moving to other areas. U.S. military bases still remain in Kanagawa, including
Camp Zama (
Army
An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...
),
Yokosuka Naval Base,
Naval Air Facility Atsugi (
Navy
A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral z ...
).
Demographics

In 1945, Kanagawa was the 15th most populous prefecture in Japan, with a population of about 1.9 million. In the years after the war, the prefecture underwent rapid urbanization as a part of the Greater Tokyo Area. The population is estimated to be 9.1 million. Kanagawa became the second most populous prefecture in 2006.
Geography

Kanagawa is a relatively small prefecture located at the southeastern corner of the
Kantō Plain
The , in the Kantō region of central Honshu, is the largest plain in Japan. Its 17,000 km2 covers more than half of the region extending over Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Tochigi Prefe ...
wedged between Tokyo on the north, the foothills of
Mount Fuji
is an active stratovolcano located on the Japanese island of Honshu, with a summit elevation of . It is the highest mountain in Japan, the second-highest volcano on any Asian island (after Mount Kerinci on the Indonesian island of Sumatra), a ...
on the northwest, and the
Sagami Bay and
Tokyo Bay
is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan spanning the coasts of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture, on the southern coast of the island of Honshu. Tokyo Bay is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Uraga Channel. Th ...
on the south and east. The eastern side of the prefecture is relatively flat and heavily urbanized, including the large port cities of
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
and
Kawasaki.
The southeastern area nearby the
Miura Peninsula is less urbanized, with the ancient city of
Kamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
drawing tourists to temples and shrines. The western part, bordered by
Yamanashi Prefecture and
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Pref ...
on the west,
is more mountainous and includes resort areas like
Odawara and
Hakone. The area, stretching from west to east and from north to south, contains of land, accounting for 0.64% of the total land area of Japan.
, 23% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as
Natural Parks, namely the
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park; Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park; and
Jinba Sagamiko,
Manazuru Hantō,
Okuyugawara, and
Tanzawa-Ōyama Prefectural Natural Parks.
Topography
Topographically, the prefecture consists of three distinct areas. The mountainous western region features the
Tanzawa Mountain Range and the volcano
Mount Hakone. The hilly eastern region is characterized by the
Tama Hills and
Miura Peninsula. The central region, which surrounds the Tama Hills and Miura Peninsula, consists of flat stream terraces and low lands around major rivers including the
Sagami River,
Sakai River,
Tsurumi River, and
Tama River.
The
Tama River forms much of the boundary between Kanagawa and Tokyo. The
Sagami River flows through the middle of the prefecture. In the western region, the Sakawa runs through a small lowland, the Sakawa Lowland, between Mount Hakone to the west and the Ōiso Hills to the east, and flows into Sagami Bay.
The Tanzawa Mountain Range, part of the Kantō Mountain Range, contains
Mount Hiru (), the highest peak in the prefecture. Other mountains measure similar mid-range heights: Mount Hinokiboramaru (),
Mount Tanzawa, (),
Mount Ōmuro (), Mount Himetsugi (), and
Mount Usu (). The mountain range is lower in height southward leading to Hadano Basin to the Ōiso Hills. At the eastern foothills of the mountain range lies the Isehara Plateau and across the Sagami River the
Sagamino plateau.
Cities

Nineteen cities are located in Kanagawa Prefecture.
*
Atsugi
*
Ayase
*
Chigasaki
*
Ebina
*
Fujisawa
*
Hadano
*
Hiratsuka
*
Isehara
*
Kamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
*
Kawasaki
*
Minamiashigara
*
Miura
*
Odawara
*
Sagamihara
*
Yamato
*
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
(capital)
*
Yokosuka
*
Zama
*
Zushi
Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each
district
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
:
*
Aikō District
**
Aikawa
**
Kiyokawa
*
Ashigarakami District
**
Kaisei
**
Matsuda
**
Nakai
**
Ōi
**
Yamakita
*
Ashigarashimo District
**
Hakone
**
Manazuru
**
Yugawara
*
Kōza District
**
Samukawa
*
Miura District
**
Hayama
*
Naka District
**
Ninomiya
**
Ōiso
file:OISO.jpg, 260px, Ōiso Long Beach resort
is a List of towns in Japan, town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 31,262 and a population density of 1820 persons per km². The total area of the town ...
Mergers
Festivals and events
*Chigasaki Hamaori Festival (July)
*Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival (July)
*Kamakura Festival (April)
*Odawara Hōjō Godai Festival (May)
*Tama River Firework event
*Yokohama Port Anniversary Festival (June)
*Yugawara Kifune Festival (July)
Transportation
Kanagawa's transport network is heavily intertwined with that of Tokyo (''see:
Transportation in Greater Tokyo'').
Shin-Yokohama and
Odawara stations on the
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed rail line that is part of the nationwide Shinkansen network. Along with the San'yō Shinkansen, it forms a continuous high-speed railway through the Taiheiyō Belt, also known as the Tokaido corridor. Opening in 19 ...
are located in the prefecture, providing high-speed rail service to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and other major cities.
Railways
*
East Japan Railway Company
**
Tōkaidō Main Line
**
Nambu Line
**
Tsurumi Line
The Tsurumi Line () is a group of 3 railway lines operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Originally built to service the port and adjacent industrial area, the lines provide passenger services (especia ...
**
Yokohama Line
**
Negishi Line
**
Yokosuka Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
The Yokosuka Line connects Tokyo Station with in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. Officially, the name Yokosuka Line is assigned to the segment between and Kurihama sta ...
**
Sagami Line
**
Chūō Main Line
*
Central Japan Railway Company
is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...
**
Tokaido Shinkansen
**
Gotemba Line
*
Keikyu
**
Main Line
**
Daishi Line
**
Kurihama Line
**
Zushi Line
*
Odakyu
**
Odawara Line
**
Enoshima Line
**
Tama Line
*
Sagami Railway
**
Main Line
**
Izumino Line
**
Shin-Yokohama Line
*
Tokyu
**
Tōyoko Line
**
Den-en-toshi Line
**
Ōimachi Line
**
Meguro Line
*
Minatomirai Line
*
Keio
**
Sagamihara Line
*
Izuhakone Railway
**
Daiyūzan Line
*
Enoshima Electric Railway
Subways
*
Yokohama Municipal Subway
**Blue Line
**Green Line
Monorail
*
Shonan Monorail
People movers
*
Kanazawa Seaside Line
Road
Expressway
*
Chūō Expressway
*
Shuto Expressway
*
Tōmei Expressway
*
Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
National highways
*
Route 1
*
Route 15
*
Route 16
*
Route 20
*
Route 129 (Hiratsuka-Atsugi-Sagamihara)
*
Route 132
*
Route 133
*
Route 134
*
Route 135 (
Shimoda–
Atami-Odawara)
*
Route 138
*
Route 246 (
Chiyoda, Tokyo
, known as Chiyoda City in English,
." ''City of Chiyoda''. Retrieved on December 28, 2008. is a S ...
-Kawasaki-
Machida-Atsugi-Isehara-
Gotenba–
Numazu)
*
Route 255
*
Route 357 (
Chiba–
Funabashi–
Daiba of Tokyo-Yokohama-Yokosuka)
*
Route 409
*
Route 412
*
Route 413 (
Fujiyoshida
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 48,782 in 19,806 households and a population density of 400 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Fujiyoshida lie ...
–
Lake Yamanaka-Sagamihara)
*
Route 466 (
Setagaya, Tokyo-Kawasaki-Yokohama)
*
Route 467
Ports
*Misaki Port – Ferry Route to
Kisarazu
*
Yokohama Port – International container hub port
Education
The
Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education manages and oversees individual municipal school districts. The board of education also directly operates most of the public high schools in the prefecture.
University facilities
*Kawasaki
**
Keio University – Shin Kawasaki Campus
**
Meiji University – Ikuta Campus
**
Senshu University – Ikuta Campus
**
Japan Women's University
is the oldest and largest of private Japanese women's universities. The university was established on 20 April 1901 by education reformist .
The university has around 6000 students and 200 faculty. It has two campuses, named after the neighbo ...
**
Showa University of Music
**
Den-en Chofu University – Aso Ward
**
Nippon Medical School
**St. Marianna University, School of Medicine – Miyamae
**Japan Cinema School
**
Tokyo City University – Aso Ward
*Yokohama
**
Tokyo Institute of Technology – Suzukakedai
**
Tokyo University of the Arts – Naka Ward
**
Yokohama National University – Hodogaya
**
Yokohama City University – Kanazawa Ward
**
Kanagawa University – Kanagawa Ward
**
Kanto Gakuin University – Kanazawa Ward
**
Toin University of Yokohama – Aoba Ward
**
Tsurumi University – Tsurumi Ward
**
Yokohama College of Commerce – Tsurumi Ward
**
Yokohama College of Pharmacy – Totsuka Ward
**
Keio University – Hiyoshi Campus
**Tokyo City University – Tsuzuki Ward
**
Meiji Gakuin University – Totsuka Ward
**
Nippon Sport Science University – Aoba Ward
**
Toyo Eiwa University – Midori Ward
**
Kokugakuin University – Tama Plaza
**
Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
*Sagamihara
**
Aoyama Gakuin University
**
Azabu University
**
Kitasato University
**
Sagami Women's University
**Obirin University
**Joshi University of Art and Design
**
Teikyo University
*Yokosuka
**
Kanagawa Dental College
**
Kanagawa University of Human Services
* Hiratsuka
**
Tokai University – Hiratsuka Campus
**
Shoin University – Hiratsuka Campus
**Kanagawa University
*Isehara
**Tokai University – Isehara Campus
**
Sanno University
*Odawara
**Kanto Gakuin University – Odawara Campus
**
International University of Health and Welfare
*Chigasaki
**
Bunkyo University – Chigasaki Campus
*Atsugi
**
Shoin University
**
Tokyo University of Agriculture – Atsugi Campus
**
Kanagawa Institute of Technology
**
Tokyo Polytechnic University
is a private university in Honchō, Tokyo, Honchō, Nakano, Tokyo. Its nickname is ''Shadai'' (写大). It was formerly known as Tokyo College of Photography (, ''Tōkyō Shashin Daigaku'').
The university was founded as Konishi Professional Sc ...
– Atsugi Campus
*Hayama
**
Graduate University for Advanced Studies
Sports
Facilities
Football and athletics
*
Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium
*Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium (
Mitsuzawa Stadium)—in Yokohama, only for football
*Nissan Stadium (
International Stadium Yokohama)—in Yokohama, the final venue of
2002 FIFA World Cup,
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup (FIFA CWC) is an international men's association football competition organised by the ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' (FIFA), the sport's global sports governing body, governing body. The compe ...
in 2005–2007 and
2019 Rugby World Cup
*
Todoroki Athletics Stadium—in Kawasaki, the final venue of
2007 IFAF World Cup (American football).
Baseball
*
Kawasaki Stadium—former homeground of Taiyo Whales (now Yokohama BayStars) and Lotte Orions (now
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba, Chiba, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by Lotte Holdings, Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd. The Marines were a founding member of the Pacific Le ...
).
*
Yokohama Stadium—for baseball (
Yokohama DeNA BayStars) and hosted
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...
*
Yokosuka Stadium—home field of
Shonan Searex, minor league team of
Yokohama BayStars
Indoor
*Odawara Arena—2020 Kanagawa Pre-Games training facilities
*
Todoroki Arena—in Kawasaki and multi-purpose venue (including basketball)
*
Yokohama Arena
is an indoor arena located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The capacity of the arena is 17,000 and was opened in 1989. The arena was modeled after US sports venue Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is a five-minute walk from the ...
—also for music concert
*
Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium
, abbreviated to , was an indoor sports arena located in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The capacity of the arena is 5,000 people and was opened in 1962.
It is a five-minute walk from the closest subway station, Kannai Station, on the JR/ Yokoha ...
—a volleyball venue of
1964 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subseq ...
in Tokyo
Other
*
Enoshima Yacht Course—used for
1964 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subseq ...
.
*
Hakone Ekiden Course—from Tokyo to
Hakone, 108.0 km, mostly on
Japan National Route 1 and
Route 15. Runners run on the divided route for ten parts on January 2 (to Hakone) and January 3 (to Tokyo) every year.
*
Lake Sagami—hosted
canoeing
Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian.
A few of the recreational ...
and
rowing for the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Teams
Association football
*
Kawasaki Frontale (
Kawasaki)—Todoroki Athletics
*
Shonan Bellmare (
Hiratsuka,
Odawara and some cities and towns in central and western area of Kanagawa)—Hiratsuka Athletic Stadium (football) and Odawara Arena (futsal)
*
Yokohama F.C. (
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
)—Mitsuzawa Ballpark
*
Yokohama F. Marinos (
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
,
Yokosuka)—Nissan Stadium
Baseball
*
Yokohama BayStars (
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
)—Yokohama Stadium, and Yokosuka Stadium (for its farm team, "
Shonan Searex").
Basketball
*
Toshiba Brave Thunders Kanagawa (
Kawasaki)—
Todoroki Arena
Volleyball
*
NEC Red Rockets (
Kawasaki)—Todoroki Arena
Visitors attractions and places of interest
*
Yokohama Chinatown
*
Yokohama Municipal Children's Botanical Garden
*
Yokohama War Cemetery
Notable people
*
Ryoko Mima (born 1984), model and entertainer
International relations
Kanagawa Prefecture has sister relationships with these places:
*
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, United States (1981)
*
Liaoning Province, China (1983)
*
Odesa Oblast
Odesa Oblast (), also referred to as Odeshchyna (Одещина), is an administrative divisions of Ukraine, oblast (province) of southwestern Ukraine, located along the northern coast of the Black Sea. Its administrative centre is the city of Ode ...
, Ukraine (1986)
*
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg ( ; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a states of Germany, German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million i ...
, Germany (1989)
*
Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea (1990)
*
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Australia (1990)
*
Penang, Malaysia (1991)
*
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County () is a county or '' län'' on the western coast of Sweden.
The county is the second most populous of Sweden's counties and it comprises 49 municipalities (''kommuner''). Its population of 1,616,000 amounts to 17% of S ...
, Sweden (1998)
*
Aguascalientes, México (2013)
In popular culture
*
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...
's stage musical ''
Pacific Overtures'', about the "opening" of Japan to Western influence by
Commodore Perry, contains the song "Welcome to Kanagawa".
*The main team in the Japanese
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
and
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Slam Dunk
A slam dunk, also simply known as a dunk, is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air, controls the ball above the horizontal plane of the rim, and scores by shoving the ball directly through the basket with on ...
'', Shohoku, is from Kanagawa.
*The Hinata Inn and surrounding town from the
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
and
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Love Hina'' are located in Kanagawa.
*The Japanese
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Elfen Lied'' takes place in Kanagawa, mainly in Kamakura and Enoshima (Fujisawa).
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
S-CRY-ED'' takes place in Kanagawa Prefecture, after a seismic event raises it from the ground.
*The Japanese
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
and
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Kenkō Zenrakei Suieibu Umishō'' takes place in the fictional Kanagawa city of Umineko.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Gundam Wings early episodes feature Kanagawa prominently, mainly Yokohama and Yokosuka.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Area no Kishi'' takes place in Kanagawa, mostly Kamakura.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Anonymous Noise'' takes place in Kanagawa, mostly Kamakura (Kamakura Yuigahama Beach).
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Hamatora'' takes place in Kanagawa, mainly in Yokohama.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
His and Her Circumstances'' takes place in Kanagawa Prefecture, mainly in
Kawasaki city and
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Neon Genesis Evangelion'' takes place in Tokyo-3, which is located in the village of
Hakone, in the
Ashigarashimo District
*A team from the Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Kuroko's Basketball'', Kaijo, is from Kanagawa.
*The manga
''Shonan Junai Gum''i, along with its prequel ''
Bad Company'', and the sequel ''
Great Teacher Onizukas spin off ''
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan'', are set in Shonan, in Kanagawa
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Yowamushi Pedal'', Hakone Academy is from Hakone, Kanagawa.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Initial D'' Fifth Stage is set in Kanagawa, and Final Stage is set in
Hakone.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Bungo Stray Dogs'' is set in Yokohama.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Aoi Hana'' is set in Kamakura.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai'' takes place in various places in Kanagawa Prefecture, such as
Fujisawa and
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
.
*The Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
and
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series ''
Astro Fighter Sunred'' is set in Kanagawa Prefecture, specifically
Kawasaki City and the area around the
Tama River.
*It's never been said, but the Japanese manga series
Komi-San Wa Komyushou Desu is set in Kanagawa. One of the characters lives in a building complex in the city of
Chigasaki that exists in real life.
See also
*
Politics of Kanagawa
Citations
General references
* Hammer, Joshua (2006). ''Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II''. New York: Simon & Schuster. ; .
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005)
''Japan Encyclopedia'' Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; .
External links
Kanagawa Prefecture Official Website
Kanagawa Prefecture Tourism Website
*
{{Authority control
Kantō region
Prefectures of Japan