Things to Do in Yamakita (山北町), Kanagawa: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Yamakita (山北町) in Kanagawa Prefecture (Kanto, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Mount Ōno, Nakagawa Cedar, Shasui Falls and served by Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) via the regional hub at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station. Set at 349 m elevation (35.4248°N, 139.0454°E), Yamakita offers travelers a base for sampling regional Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai, Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen, Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) cuisine and exploring neighboring Matsuda (松田町) (8.5 km), Dōshi (道志村) (9.5 km), Kaisei (開成町) (12.3 km), Minamiashigara (南足柄市) (13 km).

Yamakita is located in the mountainous western portion of Kanagawa Prefecture, bordering Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures. Much of the town is within the boundaries of the Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park. During the Edo period the area around Yamakita was part of Odawara Domain, along with most of western Sagami Province. After the cadastral reforms of the early Meiji period, Kawa village was one of several villages established within Ashigarakami district, Kanagawa Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The economy of Yamakita is based primarily on agriculture and forestry. Within Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamakita (山北町) serves as a town (町) in Kanagawa Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1889-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

What to See & Do in Yamakita (山北町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Yamakita (山北町) from Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) at 349 m elevation (35.4248°N, 139.0454°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Yamakita):

• Mount Ōno — local sightseeing landmark near Yamakita (山北町).
• Nakagawa Cedar — local sightseeing landmark near Yamakita (山北町).
• Shasui Falls — local sightseeing landmark near Yamakita (山北町).
• Tanzawa Ōyama Kokutei Park (丹沢大山国定公園) — local sightseeing landmark near Yamakita (山北町).
• Myōjinga Dake (明神ヶ岳) — local sightseeing landmark near Yamakita (山北町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Yamakita: Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) (connecting to Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Yamakita

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Yamakita (山北町) and Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto:

• Matsuda (松田町) — 8.5 km from Yamakita (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Dōshi (道志村) — 9.5 km from Yamakita (Yamanashi Prefecture)
• Kaisei (開成町) — 12.3 km from Yamakita (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Minamiashigara (南足柄市) — 13 km from Yamakita (Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Oyama (小山町) — 13.6 km from Yamakita (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Getting to Yamakita & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Yamakita (山北町) via Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km): 25–30m from Tokyo Station to Yokohama or Kawasaki on JR lines; 35m to Odawara on the Tokaido Shinkansen; 55m to Kamakura on the JR Yokosuka Line. From Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station, transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) to reach central Yamakita (35.4248°N, 139.0454°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Yokohama with Yamakita (山北町) and neighboring Matsuda, Dōshi, Kaisei. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Yamakita, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Yamakita and continuing toward Matsuda can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Yamakita: While Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) anchors public transit for Yamakita, picking up a rental car at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station makes it easy to link Mount Ōno and Nakagawa Cedar with nearby Matsuda (松田町) (8.5 km), Dōshi (道志村) (9.5 km), Kaisei (開成町) (12.3 km), Minamiashigara (南足柄市) (13 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Yamakita (山北町) & Kanagawa

Dining near Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) and across Yamakita (山北町) highlights the regional food culture of Kanagawa Prefecture and Kanto. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Yamakita:

• Local specialty & terroir of Yamakita (山北町): geothermal hot-spring (onsen) ryokan hospitality and mountain tourism alongside sweet cherry (sakuranbo) orchards and highland fruit farming.
• Yokohama Chinatown steamed buns & shumai — regional specialty enjoyed across Yamakita (山北町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokohama Iekei tonkotsu-shoyu ramen — regional specialty enjoyed across Yamakita (山北町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Shonan shirasu (whitebait bowls) — regional specialty enjoyed across Yamakita (山北町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Odawara kamaboko fish cakes — regional specialty enjoyed across Yamakita (山北町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.
• Yokosuka Kaigun curry — regional specialty enjoyed across Yamakita (山北町) and Kanagawa Prefecture.

If you are dining in Yamakita (山北町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km).

Where to Stay in Yamakita (山北町)

Visitors staying overnight in Yamakita (山北町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km), or base at major rail hubs in Yokohama (Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station) or neighboring Matsuda, Dōshi, Kaisei for quick train access into Yamakita. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Yamakita & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Yamakita (山北町, 349 m elevation at 35.4248°N, 139.0454°E): Late March–April for cherry blossoms in Kamakura & Yokohama Sankeien; June for Kamakura hydrangeas; October–December for crisp Mt. Fuji views from Hakone & Enoshima.

Wider sightseeing across Kanagawa Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Mount Ōno in Yamakita (山北町) includes: Yokohama Minato Mirai & Chinatown, ancient temples and Great Buddha of Kamakura, Enoshima Island, Odawara Castle, and Hakone hot springs overlooking Mt. Fuji.

Practical Travel Tips for Yamakita (山北町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Yamakita: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Yokohama Station, Shin-Yokohama (Tokaido Shinkansen) & Odawara Station or Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) for local bus schedules to Mount Ōno and walking maps of Yamakita (山北町).
• Cash & ATMs in Yamakita: Convenience stores and major hotels around Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Mount Ōno often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Yamakita accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Yamakita: Around Yaga Station (谷峨駅) (6.5 km) and neighboring Matsuda, Dōshi, Kaisei, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.