Rainy Day in Kanagawa: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Yokohama Museum of Art

On a day when raindrops tap against the windows, a rainy day is the perfect opportunity to engage quietly and deeply with art. The Yokohama Museum of Art, standing in the Minato Mirai 21 waterfront district against a backdrop of the greenery of Grand Mall Park, is one of the city's most iconic landmarks.

The museum's collection comprises over 14,000 works centered on modern and contemporary art, including masterpieces by world-renowned artists such as Picasso, Magritte, and Yayoi Kusama — all to be contemplated slowly, with the sound of rain as a natural accompaniment. The special exhibition program is consistently of international caliber, offering a new discovery with every visit.

Recommended time and season: Weekday mornings tend to be quieter, allowing for an unhurried viewing experience. The first weekend of a new special exhibition can be busy, so mid-week visits during the middle of the exhibition run are best.

Local tips: After viewing, browse the museum shop for art-inspired gifts and goods — a Yokohama tradition. Then settle into the in-house café, sip a drink, and watch the rain soften the Minato Mirai skyline through the window.

Access: About 3 minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line. Another welcome point is that you can reach it via the underground passage and stay almost completely dry even in the rain.

Traveler's tip: While a special exhibition is running, same-day tickets can sell out. Booking in advance through the official website is recommended. Renting an audio guide (for a fee) lets you enjoy the background of the works more deeply.

Enoshima Aquarium (Shin-Enoshima Suizokukan, "Enosui")

A dreamlike light, shimmering blue and purple, drifts through the dimly lit halls. The jellyfish exhibition area of the Enoshima Aquarium — known affectionately as "Enosui" — the "Jellyfish Fantasy Hall," is all the more strikingly beautiful when you visit on a rainy day. From the moment you set down your umbrella, you are drawn into another world, as if you had wandered into the deep sea. This is exactly why Enosui enjoys such enormous popularity as a rainy-day destination.

In the great Sagami Bay tank, which recreates the sea off Shonan, schools of fish gliding elegantly by will take your breath away. And the dolphin and sea lion show, staged in an ocean-view arena with a sweeping panorama of the Pacific, is of course wonderful on a clear day — but set against a choppy, rain-swept sea it carries a different kind of power.

Recommended time and season: To avoid crowds, the morning right after opening is recommended. Summer holidays and long weekends get very busy, so a weekday in the rain is the sweet spot. The jellyfish displays change with the seasons, so there are fresh discoveries no matter how often you visit.

Local tips: Enoshima floats right in front of the aquarium, and you can take in that superb view from inside the building. On rainy days there are fewer tourists, and you may have a window seat and the view all to yourself. Rounding off the trip with a seafood rice bowl or a raw shirasu (whitebait) bowl along the Enoshima approach is the standard route for locals.

Access: About 3 minutes on foot from "Katase-Enoshima Station" on the Odakyu Line. Taking the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station gets you there in about an hour, and the journey itself becomes part of the pleasure of the trip. It is also about 10 minutes on foot from "Enoshima Station" on the Enoshima Electric Railway.

Traveler's tip: Check the dolphin show times in advance on the official website. Even in the rain, the outdoor seats are more comfortable if you have a raincoat. Visiting with a stroller is possible, but you may have to wait for the elevator when it is busy.

Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama

How was "that one cup" born? At the Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama, you can trace the history of instant ramen from its birth to the present day through playful, hands-on exhibits. Far from merely chasing away rainy-day boredom, it is a facility with a curious magic that makes adults and children alike lose all track of time.

The biggest highlight is the workshop where you can make your very own "My CUPNOODLES," one of a kind in the world. Drawing your own design on the cup and then customizing it by choosing your favorite combination from four kinds of soup and twelve kinds of ingredients is so much fun that adults get just as serious about it as children. You can take your finished original cup noodles home with you, so it also makes a fine souvenir of the trip.

Recommended time and season: My CUPNOODLES making uses a numbered-ticket system, so the iron rule is to line up right after opening. Weekends and long holidays are especially crowded, which makes a weekday in the rain a hidden gem.

Local tips: At the "Chicken Ramen Factory" you can experience noodle making from kneading the flour onward (reservation required, fee charged). The food court "NOODLES BAZAAR" also serves noodle dishes from around the world — not to be missed if you love eating your way around.

Access: About 8 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line. It is also close to the Yokohama Museum of Art, so a plan that pairs the two spots is recommended.

Traveler's tip: The fee for making My CUPNOODLES is a reasonable 400 yen (tax included). It does take 30 to 40 minutes, though, so allow plenty of room in your schedule. The final step of inflating the air package is hugely popular with children.

Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History (Kanagawa Kenritsu Rekishi Hakubutsukan)

Walking the streets of Yokohama, you may suddenly feel as though you have slipped back in time. To find out where that sensation comes from, head to the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History. Housed in the magnificent former head office of the Yokohama Specie Bank, built in 1904 (Meiji 37) and used just as it is, this museum begins its journey through history the instant you step through the door.

The domed ceiling, the massive arches, the ornament carved into every detail — the interior design is as superb as the exterior, and you will be overwhelmed by its beauty before you even reach the exhibits. Inside, you can follow a careful, comprehensive history of Kanagawa from prehistory and antiquity to the modern era, and the rich displays on the opening of the port of Yokohama and on Kamakura culture are ideal both as preparation for and as a review of your travels.

Recommended time and season: A hidden gem where you can view in a calm atmosphere all year round. It is rarely crowded, so you can spend a comfortable time here even in the rain. The autumn special exhibition season makes for an even more rewarding visit.

Local tips: The museum sits in Yokohama's former foreign settlement area, and Meiji- and Taisho-era Western-style buildings are scattered nearby. Simply strolling along Bashamichi or Nihon-odori between showers lets you feel the depth of Yokohama's exotic character.

Access: About 1 minute on foot from Exit 4 of Bashamichi Station on the Minatomirai Line. It is also about 8 minutes on foot from "Kannai Station" on the JR and municipal subway lines.

Traveler's tip: Admission is relatively reasonable, and much of the permanent exhibition allows photography. The interior is a quiet, composed space, making it ideal when you want to escape the bustle and take your time.

Kamakura Museum of National Treasures (Kamakura Kokuhokan)

Step into the precincts of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and you can feel the air along the approach change in an instant. Standing quietly at the far end of it, the Kamakura Museum of National Treasures is a celebrated spot known to those in the know — and one that shows its true worth on a rainy day.

Opened in 1928 (Showa 3), the museum holds Buddhist statues, paintings, and craft works centered on the Kamakura period, and you can view pieces designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties up close. On rainy days there are fewer tourists, and you may find yourself standing quietly before statues that usually draw a crowd. Spending a wordless moment face to face with the expression of a Buddha handed down across centuries is a special experience you can have only in Kamakura in the rain.

Recommended time and season: The displays change in step with the special exhibitions, so it is best to check the current program on the official website before visiting. On a rainy weekday the whole precinct falls silent, making for a deeper Kamakura experience.

Local tips: After viewing, take a slow walk through the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and then stop at a long-established sweet shop along the approach for warm zenzai or matcha desserts — the way Kamakura connoisseurs spend their time. The scene of rain-soaked moss and stone pavement holds a wabi-sabi beauty you will never encounter on a clear day.

Access: About 10 minutes on foot from the east exit of "Kamakura Station" on the JR Yokosuka Line and the Enoshima Electric Railway. Just walking from the station along the approach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (the Dankazura) lifts the spirits. From Yokohama Station it is about 35 to 40 minutes by train.

Traveler's tip: There are many famous temples and shrines around the Kamakura Museum of National Treasures, such as Engakuji and Kenchoji, and their precincts are often uncrowded in the rain, so visiting them together is recommended. Your feet get wet easily, so non-slip shoes and a folding umbrella are essentials.

Access Information

Yokohama area (Yokohama Museum of Art, Cupnoodles Museum, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History) Using the Minatomirai Line as your base is extremely convenient. Both the Yokohama Museum of Art and the Cupnoodles Museum are within a 10-minute walk of "Minatomirai Station." The nearest station to the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History is "Bashamichi Station," and an ambitious plan to visit all three in a single day is entirely feasible. From Tokyo and Shinjuku, change to the Minatomirai Line at Yokohama Station. As a guide, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes from Tokyo Station.

Shonan / Kamakura area (Enoshima Aquarium, Kamakura Museum of National Treasures) The Enoshima Aquarium is about 3 minutes on foot from Odakyu "Katase-Enoshima Station." Using the Romancecar from Shinjuku, it is a comfortable one hour or so with no transfers. The Kamakura Museum of National Treasures is about 10 minutes on foot from JR "Kamakura Station." Enosui and the Kamakura Museum of National Treasures are about 20 to 30 minutes apart by car, so a plan that takes a full day to drive around the Shonan and Kamakura area is also recommended.

General tip: On rainy days in Kanagawa, tourists tend to disperse, and the fact that many spots are quieter than usual is actually the hidden advantage. Check each facility's official website in advance for opening hours and any temporary closures, and make use of online tickets for a smooth outing.