Kawasaki Sights and Landmarks Guide, Japan

Kawasaki is an important industrial city of Japan located in Kanagawa, on Honshu Island which is the country’s largest island. It stretches along the southern bank of the Tama River that separates it from Tokyo. The city as it stands today was founded in 1924, and its historical past, industrial advancement and natural beauty provide every traveler with numerous sights that leave them awestruck.

 Temples

The first and most significant place to visit is the Kawasaki Daishi, an 870-year old temple popular as a starting point in the New Year. Formally known as Heiken-ji, it is one of Japan’s most visited temples. People come here in thousands in the New Year seeking spiritual protection to ward off evil forces and misfortune ahead.

Close to the Daishi is a beautiful Chinese-style garden called Shinshu-En. It is a haven of calm and peace with its Chinese style structures erected around the pond. It was built to commemorate the city’s friendship with Shenyang, its sister city in China. 

 Museums

A must-see in Kawasaki is the Kawasaki City Museum which is located near the stadium in Todoroki Ryokuchi Park. The museum contains the entire history and culture of Kawasaki with details about its folk art and fine arts.

Insights into the lives of the Japanese can be got from a visit to the Nihon Minka-En, the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum. This is a collection of preserved Japanese houses in the Ikuta Green Park. They have been brought in from different parts of Japan, after dismantling and then carefully reconstructed to look identical to the original, depicting the region they belong to. Seven of these have been declared as important national cultural properties. It is one of the most gripping sights of Japan. The next destination is the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, which contains the lifetime works of the city’s artist Taro Okamoto. The museum displays his work even outside the museum and also has a thirty meter high Tower of Mother that gives the structure an imposing appeal. 

 Malls

The sights and sounds of Kawasaki would be incomplete without a trip to the Azalea shopping mall that is coming up under the front of the Kawasaki station. It is the second largest mall in the country, lined with row after row of shopping stores.

  Port

The Kawasaki port is an important part of the city and it is possible to see the goings-on at the port from the Kawasaki Marien. The modern structure comprises two towers connected to each other at the top, from where visitors can get a beautiful view of the Tokyo Bay. The observation deck constructed for this purpose stands 51 meters above the ground.

For a green experience one can visit the Ikuta Green Park, the city’s largest spot of greenery that brings one close to nature, culture, art and science