Kawasaki
Discover Kawasaki
Kawasaki has been an important city of trade since the days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, as a stop on the Tokaido road between Tokyo and Kyoto. With a population of over 1.5 million (2020), Kawasaki is the ninth most populated city in Japan, but it's sandwiched between Japan's two largest cities, Tokyo and Yokohama, and consequently ignored by the vast majority of tourists zooming between the two. There are attractions, though, that make Kawasaki a unique side trip, including a Buddhist temple that ranks as one of Japan's top three most visited temples during the New Year, a Shinto fertility shrine that hosts one of Japan's wackiest festivals, and an underrated open-air museum. Geographically, Kawasaki lies in the middle of the Keihin (Tokyo-Yokohama) region, separated from the Tokyo metropolis by the Tama River, which it roughly follows, and is divided into seven wards. The eastern part of Kawasaki, along Tokyo Bay, contains industrial work areas and blue-collar housing, while more upscale buildings can be found in the Tama Hills further west and inland.
What to Experience in Kawasaki
Taste of Kawasaki...
Previously long thought of as a working-class, blue collar, industrial city with little to offer in terms of the sophistication of Tokyo or the internationalized flair of Yokohama, central Kawasaki was revitalized and is a modern city. The area around the station is quite clean and modern, very safe and convenient and offers good value in terms of eating establishments. You will not find much in the way of notable or must-eat culinary restaurants but you will find very competent and reasonable dining, particularly on the east side of the station and in the Azalea Underground Arcade connected to the east exit of the station, where about 40 restaurants line on a straight corridor. The Kawasaki Station area is a convenient place to stay if you are visiting Tokyo or Yokohama, due to being able to conveniently access either city through the JR Keihin-Touhoku, JR Tokaido and Keikyu lines. Outside of the central business districts there's a large highwayside cluster of motels in Shin-Maruko, near the Tama River.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsTo reach Kawasaki from Narita Airport (NRT), take the JR Narita Express to Shinagawa and transfer to the Tokaido Line. This takes about 90 minutes and the trip is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Rail Pass. Without a pass the one-way fare is ¥3280. The N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket is only sold in a round-trip version for ¥4000. The transfer from Shinagawa station is easier than Tokyo station. A cheaper way of traveling from Narita Airport is by using a combination of commuter trains on the Keisei Railway, Toei Asakusa Subway Line and Keikyu Line. This takes about 2 hours with at least one change of trains required en route, and the trains can get crowded, but the fare is only ¥1380. From Haneda Airport (HND), you can take the Keikyu Line's Express (急行) to the Keikyu-Kawasaki station in 15–20 minutes for ¥400....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The surprisingly rustic Keikyū Daishi Line (京急大師線) putters through people's backyards, and is useful for the three-stop trip from Keikyu Kawasaki to Kawasaki Daishi. From Shinagawa, it takes about 20 minutes total at a cost of ¥230. You really don't need a car to travel in Kawasaki, especially since trains make it easy to get in and get around. Nevertheless, Toyota, Nissan and Nippon Rentacar have car rental facilities between Kawasaki Station and Route 15 should you need it. Kawasaki is largely an industrial area and residential suburb — as typical in Japan, not much distinction between the two is made. But there's one very large temple and one very offbeat shrine to draw in the occasional curious tourist. Wakamiya Hachiman has a wonderful selection of amulets promising fertility, sexual prowess and protection from disease. Prices ¥500-1000, and some of the revenue goes to HIV/AIDS research.
Where to Stay
The Kawasaki Station area is a convenient place to stay if you are visiting Tokyo or Yokohama, due to being able to conveniently access either city through the JR Keihin-Touhoku, JR Tokaido and Keikyu lines. Outside of the central business districts there's a large highwayside cluster of motels in Shin-Maruko, near the Tama River.
Money & Budget
Wakamiya Hachiman has a wonderful selection of amulets promising fertility, sexual prowess and protection from disease. Prices ¥500-1000, and some of the revenue goes to HIV/AIDS research. In festival time, a little market selling penis-shaped candies and other sexual paraphernalia pops up on the shrine grounds. Previously long thought of as a working-class, blue collar, industrial city with little to offer in terms of the sophistication of Tokyo or the internationalized flair of Yokohama, central Kawasaki was revitalized and is a modern city. The area around the station is quite clean and modern, very safe and convenient and offers good value in terms of eating establishments.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Kawasaki
black and gray motorcycle on gray asphalt road during sunset
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Light & Shadow
a black motorcycle is on display in a showroom
Holi or not, Miss green! you are my color of choice - Kawasaki Ninja Zx10r.
two green and white sports bike parked near wall
Motorcycle = Happiness Kawasaki z800
Kawasaki,Motorcycle,Ninjia,riding
On this day a Kawasaki Ninja, with orange accents, was the only vehicle in the service lane at this dealership during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Unfortunately it was owned by one of the employees.
Z800 in Switzerland.
black and gray motorcycle on gray asphalt road during sunset
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Light & Shadow