Aikawa (愛川町), Kanagawa

Aikawa is a small and quietly scenic town located in the northwestern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, nestled in the river valley where the Nakatsu River and the Ayu River converge in the foothills of the Tanzawa Mountains. It is one of the most naturally beautiful and least commercially developed towns in Kanagawa Prefecture, offering a genuine rural and riverside escape within surprisingly easy reach of the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The town sits at the transitional zone between the densely urbanized lowlands of Kanagawa and the forested mountain terrain of the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park that rises to the north and west. This position at the edge of the mountains gives Aikawa a landscape character that feels considerably more remote and naturally pristine than the relatively short distance from Yokohama and Tokyo would suggest.

The Nakatsu River running through the heart of Aikawa is one of the most important and celebrated rivers in Kanagawa Prefecture, known for the exceptional clarity of its mountain-fed waters and the rich aquatic ecosystem it supports. The river is particularly celebrated among ayu (sweetfish) fishing enthusiasts, and the Nakatsu is considered one of the finest ayu fishing rivers in the broader Kanto region.

The ayu fishing tradition on the Nakatsu River has been practiced for centuries and remains an important cultural and recreational activity in Aikawa during the fishing season from June through October. The combination of clear mountain water, rocky riverbed, and the abundant ayu population makes the Nakatsu a destination of genuine significance for fishing enthusiasts from across Kanagawa and neighboring prefectures.

The riverbanks of the Nakatsu through Aikawa offer some of the most pleasant and accessible riverside walking and picnic environments in Kanagawa Prefecture. The clear shallow water, pebble beaches, and forested valley walls create a natural environment of considerable beauty that attracts families, hikers, and nature enthusiasts particularly during the warmer months when the river becomes a popular destination for swimming and river play.

The Tanzawa Mountains rising above Aikawa to the north and west are part of the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park, one of the most important and heavily used natural recreation areas in the entire Kanto region. The mountains offer an extensive network of hiking trails ranging from gentle valley walks to more demanding ridge traverses, and Aikawa serves as a practical gateway town for hikers approaching the Tanzawa range from the south.

The autumn foliage season in the Tanzawa mountains and the river valley around Aikawa is one of the most spectacular and widely appreciated in Kanagawa Prefecture. The forested hillsides above the town turn vivid shades of red, orange, and gold from late October through November, and the reflections of the autumn colors in the clear Nakatsu River below create landscape scenes of considerable natural beauty.

The town of Aikawa has a significant industrial dimension alongside its natural character, with manufacturing facilities representing some of Japan's major industrial companies established in the Hanzawa and Tsuchiya areas of the town. The presence of these industrial facilities has shaped the economic and demographic development of Aikawa throughout the post-war period, creating a community that combines agricultural, industrial, and residential functions in a manner typical of Kanagawa's intermediate zone between urban and rural.

The Aikawa Furusato Festival held annually in autumn is one of the most important community events in the town, celebrating the local agricultural harvest, traditional crafts, and community culture through performances, food stalls, and local product exhibitions. The festival reflects the strong sense of local identity and community attachment that characterizes Aikawa despite its relatively modest size and relative proximity to the metropolitan area.

The surrounding area offers several additional natural and cultural attractions that complement a visit to Aikawa. The Miyagase Lake reservoir to the west, created by the Miyagase Dam on the Nakatsu River, is one of the largest and most scenically beautiful reservoirs in Kanagawa Prefecture, surrounded by forested hills and offering boat tours, fishing, and lakeside walking during the warmer months.

Miyagase Lake is particularly celebrated for its autumn foliage, with the surrounding hillsides reflected in the still water of the reservoir creating one of the most photographed seasonal landscapes in Kanagawa Prefecture. The dam structure itself, a concrete arch dam completed in 1978, is one of the most impressive engineering structures in the prefecture and offers viewing platforms above the reservoir.

Aikawa is accessible by road from Atsugi City in approximately 20 minutes and from Yokohama in approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic. Public bus services connect the town to Atsugi Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line and Honda-Atsugi Station on the Sotetsu Izumino Line, with journey times of approximately 30 to 40 minutes. A rental car or private vehicle is strongly recommended for exploring the river valley, mountain approaches, and Miyagase Lake area comfortably.