Learning the kanji and a little bit about each of Japan’s 47 prefectures!
Kanji・漢字
神 かみ、かん~、こう~、シン、ジン、かな gods, mind, soul
奈 いかん、からなし、ナ、ナイ、ダイ Nara
川 かわ、セン stream; river
県 ケン prefecture
関東 かんとう Kanto, region consisting of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures
Prefectural Capital (県庁所在地) : Yokohama (横浜市)
Kanagawa Prefecture is located just south of Tokyo. It is home to many day trip destinations from Tokyo, including the cities of Kamakura and Hakone. The prefectural capital of Yokohama on the Pacific coast is Japan's second largest city and its major port, including many multicultural influences such as a China Town and the Minato Mirai building. The port areas are also major centres of bonito and tuna fishing. Inland, Kanagawa has a flourishing agricultural area producing flowers and dairy products for the Tokyo market.
Recommended Tourist Spot・おすすめ観光スポット
The Great Buddha of Kamakura - 鎌倉大仏
The Great Buddha of Kamakura (source)
At the Buddhist temple Kotoku-in (高徳院) in Kamakura stands the 11-metre tall 13th-century bronze statue of Amida Buddha. Initially housed in a wooden hall, it was restored in the Edo period (1603-1868) after being damaged over the years by typhoons and earthquakes and now towers over the grounds of the temple. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is the second largest seated Buddha in Japan.
After you visit the Great Buddha, you can also find other Zen Buddhist temples, which are among the oldest and most beautiful in the country, and most in walking distance from each other. Enoshima and the Kamakura beaches are also nearby.
It may seem strange, but this popular souvenir from the Owakudani (大涌谷 or Great Boiling Valley) in the resort town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture gets its distinctive black color from being boiled in natural hot spring water for 60 minutes at a temperature of 80°C, then steamed at 100°C for 15 minutes in steel baskets over natural hot spring water. The natural hot spring water contains sulfur and iron, thus turning the egg shells black. The Kuro-tamago, or Black Eggs, have a slight sulfur smell (although the whole valley has this smell so you might not notice). They are safe to eat and are said to add 7 years to your lifespan! (You shouldn't eat more than two at one time though, as the lifespan elongating effects will then be nullified, or you might just feel slightly sick).
Owakudani is an active volcanic valley that is known to locals as Jigokudani (地獄谷 or Valley of Hell) due to the sulfurous volcanic gasses and steam from the natural hot spring waters. There are many resorts nearby in Hakone which tap into these natural hot springs. The valley was formed due to the last eruption of Mt Hakone about 3,000 years ago. On clear days, you have a great view of Mt Fuji. There is also a ropeway that will take you over the active volcanic area, but sometimes it can be closed when the volcanic activity picks up and the volcanic gasses increase, so check before you visit.
Kanagawa Dialect・Kanagawa-ben・神奈川弁
Kanagawa-ben is a basket term used to describe the dialects spoken in the prefecture, but there is no single unified dialect.
1. うんめろ unmero very, a lot
うんめろ美味しい (unmero oishii)
Standard Japanese: たくさん、とても (takusan, totemo)
とても美味しい (totemo oishii)
English: very, a lot
very delicious
2. あんきだ anki da I'm relieved, it's a relief
おめーらガ、みんなこどまーでけーからあんきだなー
(omeera ga, minna kodomaa dekei kara anki da naa)
Standard Japanese: 安心だ (anshin da)
お前の家は、みんな子どもが成長しているから安心だな
(omae no ie wa, minna kodomo ga seichou shite iru kara anshin da na)
English: I'm relieved
It's a relief because all the children in your home are growing up well
3. あっちかし・こっちかし (acchikashi, kocchikashi)
椅子を並べるのはこっちかし? あっちかし?
(isu o naraberu no wa kocchikashi? acchikashi?)
Standard Japanese: あちら側・こちら側 (achiragawa, kochiragawa)
椅子を並べるのはこちら側? あちら側?
(isu o naraberu no wa kochiragawa? achiragawa?)