Sakura Channel is set to showcase the Kanto Area, featuring the prefectures of Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Ibaraki, and Chiba starting from 6 pm in Australia and 8 pm in New Zealand, on January 20th. You can easily tune in by visiting www.sakuratv.com and clicking on Sakura to enjoy 24/7 access to FREE Japanese tourism, food, culture, and more. No REgo required.
Below is an overview of the five prefectures:
Gunma Prefecture, not too far from Tokyo in the northern Kanto area, can be described as an adventure playground of sorts. Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, canoeing, and canyoning provide adventurous activities all year-round. Its mountains, serving as ski slopes in the winter, transform into excellent hiking trails in the summer. Gunma is also known for having some of the nation’s best hot springs, with Kusatsu Onsen being the most notable; its Yubatake (hot water field) is a must-see. The Old Tomioka Silk Mill was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2014. Other places to visit include Maebashi, Minakami, and the Kusatsu area. These locations are a great starting point for your Google search to make your visit to Gunma worthwhile.
Tochigi Prefecture is located approximately 100 km north of Tokyo. Utsunomiya, its most populous city, can be reached in about one hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. The Nasu and Nikko areas are home to a range of mountains with peaks exceeding 2,000 meters, leading to wide-open plains in the south. Each area has its own distinct features, from the Nasu area, one of the premier highland resort areas in Japan, to the Nikko area with its UNESCO World Heritage shrines and temples in the mountains. The central area has Utsunomiya as its transportation hub, while the eastern area thrives on traditional crafts, and the southern area, once a commercial center, is closest to Tokyo. Places to explore in Tochigi for your first time include Nikko, Lake Chuzenji, Utsunomiya, Nasu Highland, Ashikaga, and much more.
Ibaraki Prefecture is close to Tokyo, and the city of Mito, the capital of the prefecture, is 100 km away. Facing the Pacific Ocean, it is known as a region rich in nature, including the sea, rivers, lakes, and mountains. Ibaraki Prefecture has been blessed with abundant nature for many years. The sea and mountainous natural resources and products have provided ample provisions for the local people since ancient times. Many historical buildings and cultural properties remain intact despite continuous modern development, allowing you to enjoy both historic culture and architecture as well as modern ones. Places to visit include Oarai town by the sea, Ushiku Daibutsu (the tallest Buddha in the world), Hitachi Seaside Park, Fukuroda Falls, Kashima Shrine, and much more.
Saitama Prefecture borders Tokyo but offers its array of outdoor adventures and living Edo history. Saitama is now an urban commuter area together with the metropolitan capital of Tokyo. The Edo atmosphere remains, however, in historic towns such as Kawagoe. Close enough to Tokyo to offer a quick getaway to the beauty of nature, mountainous areas like Chichibu offer easy hiking and seasonal flowers. The semi-rural Sayama Hills area is dotted with emerald-green tea fields. There are “don’t miss places” in Saitama. For example, Nagatoro for outdoor adventures, Kawagoe Town for the classic Edo era experience, Hitsujiyama Park for spring flower season or colorful autumn vistas in Nakatsu Valley, or visit the interior of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Kasukabe to be amazed.
Chiba Prefecture is the home of Narita International Airport and is conveniently located next to Tokyo. Its extensive train and highway bus networks allow visitors to access the rich nature, hidden countryside gems, historic districts, local temples and shrines, seaside hot spring resorts, and world-famous surf breaks found near Tokyo. Experience Japanese food culture and enjoy fresh seafood too, as Chiba’s mild climate and unique geography make it a hub of agriculture and fishing. Since there is no clear border line like maps, Chiba is part of the Tokyo area, so you can enjoy Tokyo Disneyland to start, followed by Tokyo Disney Sea and Inage Seaside Park with your children. Some other places of interest include the Natural History Museum, Mihama-en Garden, Hoki Museum, Kandu Children’s Amusement Centre, Chiba City Museum, Chiba Shrine Myoeken Hongu, Showa no Mori, and many more places. If you are based in Tokyo, you can simply go around Chiba as part of Tokyo, and the same concept applies to Saitama Prefecture as well.
Enjoy all five prefectures, make your base in Tokyo for a week or more; they are all different from each other, so your trip will be colorful.
From 20th January Cur TV will show you Goa to chigi iaki saitama and Cha GMA is known for its Hot Springs ski resorts and the iconic Mount Haruna it offers a mix of natural beauty and outdoor activities to chigi is renowned for its historical sites such as Niko’s too Shrine a UNESCO world heritage site the prefecture boasts Scenic Landscapes including mountains lakes and picturesque
Countryside iaki is recognized for its Science and Technology institutions as well as the scenic Hitachi Seaside Park the prefecture combines technology with natural beauty saitama is a key part of the greater Tokyo area it offers a balance of urban convenience and Suburban Tranquility with attractions like Omi yonai Village and the Railway Museum
Known for Tokyo Disneyland and Nar International Airport Chiba is a mix of bustling urban areas and relaxing Coastal Landscapes it’s a popular destination for both entertainment and outdoor activities please enjoy Japan at www. sakuratv68