5 Instagram-Worthy Gourmet Spots and Souvenirs from Kanagawa

Kanagawa is full of exceptional food that begs to be photographed! Beautiful natural settings by sea and mountain provide the perfect backdrop for photogenic eating. Here are five must-try, must-share gourmet experiences.

01 | Kamakura — "Kurumicco" from Kamakura Beniya Hachimangumae Honten

The Kurumicco — with its adorable squirrel packaging — is Kamakura's most iconic souvenir: caramel and walnuts sandwiched between buttery cookies, and the cross-section cut is simply beautiful!

📸 Photography tip Shooting from a diagonal 45-degree angle with the tree-lined Wakamiya-oji avenue leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in the background is recommended. Soft morning light brings out the caramel color of the cross-section even more vividly.

🚃 Access: About 9 minutes on foot from JR / Enoden "Kamakura Station" east exit (1-12-4 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City) / 9:30–17:00

02 | Yokohama Chinatown — "Banpin" Chinese Pastry from Jukei Hanten

The star item of Jukei Hanten (重慶飯店), a Sichuan cuisine restaurant founded in 1959, is Banpin (番餅) — a large, disc-shaped baked pastry. The hearty, unpretentious look is equally photogenic in cross-section once sliced.

📸 Photography tip Using Chinatown's red lanterns as a backdrop completes a depth-rich, Chinese-style world. In the late afternoon when orange light warms everything, the color of the pastry glows even more vividly.

🚃 Access: The new building shop (inside Rose Hotel Yokohama) is about 5 minutes on foot from Minatomirai Line "Motomachi-Chukagai Station" / Opens at 7:30 a.m.

03 | Enoshima — "Enoshima-Don" and Shirasu-Don (Whitebait Bowl)

Shirasu-don, eaten while gazing at the Shonan sea, is a local specialty with maximum photogenic appeal. A colorful bowl of pure-white whitebait topped with seaweed and egg is the quintessential Instagram-worthy dish!

📸 Photography tip An overhead shot with the Enoshima Benten Bridge or the sea in the background is ideal. On sunny days, late morning to around noon is the best time to capture the sparkling sea alongside your bowl.

🚃 Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Odakyu Line "Katase-Enoshima Station"

04 | Hakone — Yumochi from Chimoto

The yumochi from long-established Hakone confectioner Chimoto is a quintessentially Japanese confection — translucent white on the outside with a faint green yuzu glimpsed within.

📸 Photography tip Shooting with Hakone's lush natural scenery or the stone-paved hot spring street as a backdrop draws out the Japanese aesthetic beautifully. In autumn, combining it with fall foliage is especially recommended. Shooting slightly into the backlight highlights the translucency of the mochi.

🚃 Access: About 7 minutes on foot from Hakone Tozan Railway "Hakone-Yumoto Station"

05 | Yokohama, Yamashita Park Area — Ariake Honkan, Harbors Moon Main Store

Ariake no Harbor, a Yokohama souvenir staple, is photogenic both for its substantial look and its Yokohama harbor-inspired packaging! Seasonal limited flavors sometimes appear, so be sure to check the selection when you visit.

📸 Photography tip Placing the confection in a flat-lay composition with Yamashita Park's red-shoes-girl statue or the Hikawa Maru in the background gives you the full Yokohama experience. A sunny weekend afternoon is the best time to shoot.

🚃 Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Minatomirai Line "Motomachi-Chukagai Station"

In Kanagawa, combining food with scenery multiplies the photogenic appeal many times over. Please head out and capture a wonderful shot.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours / closing days: Kamakura Beniya's main shop in front of Hachimangu Shrine is open from 9:30 to 17:00. The shop in the new wing of Jukei Hanten (inside the Rose Hotel Yokohama) opens at 7:30 in the morning. Chimoto (Hakone Yumoto), Ariake's main shop Harbour's Moon and the eating places on Enoshima all have different opening hours and closing days, so check each official website.
• Guide to budget and prices: Souvenir confectionery is mostly sold in boxes, with prices displayed in the shop. Prices at eating places vary widely from one establishment to another, so it is reassuring to check the menu displayed outside before going in.
• Access: Kamakura Beniya main shop in front of Hachimangu Shrine: 1-12-4 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City, about 9 minutes on foot from the east exit of "Kamakura Station" on the JR and Enoden lines. Jukei Hanten new wing shop: about 5 minutes on foot from "Motomachi-Chukagai Station" on the Minatomirai Line. Chimoto: within walking distance of "Hakone-Yumoto Station" on the Hakone Tozan Railway. Ariake main shop Harbour's Moon: Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, about 5 minutes on foot from "Motomachi-Chukagai Station."
• Parking: Kamakura, Enoshima and Hakone Yumoto are all areas with serious weekend traffic jams and a shortage of parking. We recommend getting around by train and on foot.
• Photography rules: In Yokohama Chinatown and along Komachi-dori, many shops require permission to photograph their shopfronts, goods or interiors, and some display notices refusing photography without permission. Always have a word with a member of staff. On busy streets, avoid stopping to take photographs or using a tripod; move to the edge of the road and keep it brief.
• Points to note: There are days when raw whitebait (nama shirasu) is not served, depending on the catch (because of the closed season or rough seas). If raw shirasu is your goal, check with the restaurant in advance.

* Opening hours and prices are subject to change. Please check each official website before visiting.

(Sources: Kamakura Beniya official website; Jukei Hanten / Rose Hotel Yokohama official website; Ariake (Yokohama Harbour World) official website; Kanko Kanagawa NOW)