Kyonan

Kyonan, the town
south of Mt. Nokogiri

Kyonan was formed in 1959 by the merger of the castle town of Katsuyama and the port town of Hota. Its name means "the town south of Nokogiri", the saw-toothed mountain. At the gateway to Minami-Boso, it has two fishing ports, Katsuyama and Hota, where fresh fish and shellfish are landed every morning.

Minamoto no Yoritomo, defeated in battle by the Taira clan, is said to have landed here to plan his comeback. The Yoritomo Festival is held every October, and the Yoritomo cherry trees are at their best from February to March.

Mt. Nokogiri

Mt. Nokogiri, the mountain that gave the town its name

Mt. Nokogiri rises on the border of Futtsu and Kyonan at the western end of the Kiyosumi range. Its jagged, saw-like ridge has long served as a landmark for ships entering Tokyo Bay. With a sweeping view over the sea of Minami-Boso, the mountain can be reached by ropeway or by car.

The Great Buddha of Nihonji, the largest seated stone Buddha in Japan, and the Jigoku Nozoki "Hell Peek" ledge are well worth seeing.

Read our Mt. Nokogiri travel guide

Flowers

A town of flowers

With its mild climate, Kyonan is also known as a town where flowers bloom all year round. Japanese daffodils begin to bloom in December, followed by the Yoritomo (Kawazu) cherry blossoms and, in spring, the Somei-Yoshino cherries.

Spots

Places to visit nearby

Nokogiriyama Ropeway
The ropeway takes you easily up to the 329.5 m summit, where the Jusshu Ichiran-dai lookout offers a 360-degree view.
Regular hours: 9:00–17:00 (16 February to 15 November)
Winter: 9:00–16:00 (16 November to 15 February)
* Extended hours in summer

[Access] About 20 min by car from the inn
[Details] Nokogiriyama Ropeway official site
Nokogiriyama Museum of Art
Exhibits works on the theme of "Kanaya, town of stone and art", with special exhibitions rooted in the local community held from time to time.

[Access] About 20 min by car from the inn
[Details] Nokogiriyama Museum of Art official site
Music & Coffee Misaki
True to its name, this café stands on a cape at the foot of Mt. Nokogiri and was the model for the film "Fushigi na Misaki no Monogatari". Coffee with a view of the wide sea in a retro atmosphere is bliss.

[Access] About 15 min by car from the inn
Michi-no-Eki Furari Tomiyama
A roadside station lined with local specialities, farm produce and seasonal flavours. It doubles as the highway bus stop "Highway Oasis Furari"; if you come by bus, we will pick you up here (after 14:30, by prior reservation).

[Access] About 8 min by car from the inn
[Details] Michi-no-Eki Furari Tomiyama official site
Michi-no-Eki Hota Shogakko (the old Hota Elementary School)
A former elementary school reborn as a roadside station. The building keeps the feel of a school and houses a farmers' market, accommodation, restaurants and more.

[Access] About 7 min by car from the inn
[Details] Michi-no-Eki Hota Shogakko official site
Oyama Senmaida rice terraces
The closest terraced rice fields to Tokyo, still farmed today while preserving the nostalgic scenery of the Japanese countryside. Enjoy the scene in every season: the breeze over the fields at planting time, the golden waves of the harvest, the rows of red spider lilies. In autumn, the "Night Festival of the Terraces" with torches and the "Lights of the Terraces" illumination are held.

[Access] About 30 min by car from the inn
Strawberry picking
Enjoy a long season from January to early May. There are many strawberry farms near the inn.

[Access] From about 10 min by car from the inn
Okuzure Daffodil Village
About 10 million daffodils blooming on the mountain slopes: a spectacular sight.

[Access] About 20 min by car from the inn
[Details] Okuzure Daffodil Village official site
Daffodil Road
From late December to January, hundreds of thousands of daffodils bloom on the slopes along the road.

[Access] About 10 min by car from the inn
Momiji Road (autumn leaves)
Prefectural Route 182 is known as Momiji Road for its roughly 10 km of autumn colour, the latest in the Kanto region, lasting until around mid-December.

[Access] About 30 min by car from the inn
Tokyo-Wan Ferry (Kanaya port)
The Tokyo-Wan Ferry links Kurihama port in Yokosuka with Kanaya port in 40 minutes each way, recommended both as transport and as sightseeing. Roughly one sailing an hour except at night. A short voyage makes a lovely change of pace.

[Access] About 20 min by car from the inn
[Details] Tokyo-Wan Ferry official site
Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu
A large outlet mall on the shore of Tokyo Bay gathering Japanese and international brands: a popular spot for fashion, food and entertainment.

[Access] About 40 min by car from the inn
[Details] Mitsui Outlet Park official site