Aikawa: Reservoir, Mountain Views and Tradition

Aikawa is in the north of Kanagawa Prefecture. The Nakatsu River and the Tanzawa mountain range shape the landscape, along with the Miyagase Dam, waterside paths, agricultural experiences and a rich cultural heritage. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, you can start by considering whether you’d rather spend your days enjoying the scenery and being active, trying hands-on activities, or exploring history and festival culture.

At the Miyagase Dam: Paths, Water and Excursions

On the Miyagase Dam walking trail, the 156-meter-high dam comes into view after you cross Shin-Ishikoya Bridge. One hiking route leads from the Hanhara terminus via the Ishigoya Dam to the Miyagase Dam, and on to the Water and Energy Museum. From Hinata Bridge, a roughly 30-minute walk follows an old riverside path to the Ishigoya Dam.

Highlights at the dam include taking a sightseeing boat around the lake and visiting the Water and Energy Museum. The boat connects the Miyagase lakeside, the dam grounds and Toriibara; check the current timetable before your visit. The facility used to build the dam also has a later function: it operates as a cable car between the top of the dam and its base. For current operating details, it’s best to check with the operator.

The Italian road train “Ai-chan-gō” connects the Aikawa Prefectural Park visitor center with the area below the Miyagase Dam. The one-way trip is one kilometer long and takes about seven minutes. Directly below the dam, Aikawa Prefectural Park offers woodland walks, places to play and opportunities to enjoy nature; check current conditions before your visit.

Mountain Views and Spring Blossoms

In the western part of Hachisuka Ikoi no Mori Forest Park, a hilltop viewpoint offers wide-ranging views over Aikawa. On a clear day, Yokohama Landmark Tower and Tokyo Skytree are also visible from the viewpoint on Mount Hachisuka. In Minowa (箕輪), meanwhile, a hilltop view stretches over rice fields—a different impression from the distant views across the region.

In spring, around 44,000 azaleas of 40 varieties bloom on the “Flower Slope” at Aikawa Prefectural Park. The season brings a distinct touch of color to the landscape. You can easily combine a visit with a walk or other nature experiences in the park.

Crafts and Farm Experiences

At the craft village in Aikawa Prefectural Park, you can try traditional Aikawa crafts hands-on: weaving, indigo dyeing, papermaking, pottery, and woodworking and bamboo crafts. If you enjoy making things yourself on vacation, this offers a different focus from a hike or a viewpoint. Check the current offerings before your trip.

Holstein dairy cows, sheep and horses are kept at Hattori Farm. Activities available there include milking cows, horseback riding and making butter; check whether they’re currently offered before your visit. When planning, you can weigh nature experiences against hands-on crafts and farm activities, without spending every day the same way.

Local History and Living Traditions

A larger-than-life replica of an elephant fossil stands in the entrance area of the Aikawa Local History Museum. It depicts an elephant that lived in Aikawa three million years ago. Check the current visitor information before your visit. Yamajū-tei was built in 1883 as the residence of a large-scale farmer, opened to the public after partial restoration in 1989, and registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in January 2009.

Shiokawa Falls is also linked to history: according to tradition, Seiryū Gongen was worshipped there during the Jinki era (724–729). The waterfall was also the fifth practice site of the Hachisuka Shugendō tradition. The Mimase lion dance is performed during the festival at Yasaka Shrine in Mimase, a subsidiary shrine of Suwa Shrine. It is said to have originated in the mid-Edo period and is considered a custom to ward off drought and epidemics; it is usually held in July.

Another ritual is the fire-walking ceremony at the annual festival of Hachisuka Shrine. It takes place every year on March 28, and prayers are offered for a year free of illness and misfortune. If you’re planning to attend a festival, check the dates in advance.

Regional Products and the Right Accommodation

At Hattori Farm, the CASALINGA ice cream shop serves gelato made exclusively with milk from the farm. Metzgeri sells, among other things, handmade sausages made by staff who trained in Germany. Check in advance which products are currently available. LAKE SIDE CAFE’s Miyagase Dam discharge curry is designed to represent the dam’s water release; menus may change.

When choosing a vacation rental in Aikawa, it helps to weigh up the experiences you have planned: the Miyagase Dam offers a lake, walking trails and a museum, while crafts and farm activities offer different things to do. Those interested in culture can include historic sites and festivals.

For the broader travel overview: Aiko District.