Major city · Japan
Kawasaki川崎
Stop for half a day between Tokyo and Yokohama for Kawasaki Daishi and the folk-house museum; 0–1 night, not a base.
Kawasaki sits between Tokyo and Yokohama on the Tokaido corridor, 15–22 minutes from Tokyo Station and 7 minutes from Yokohama. It is an industrial and commuter city with three real draws: Kawasaki Daishi temple, the Kanamara fertility shrine and the Japan Open-air Folk House Museum. Most travellers pass through; a half day or one night is enough, and it works as a cheaper bed for Tokyo or Yokohama.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), New Year (temple crowds)
- Airports
- HND · NRT
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kawasaki110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kawasaki, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyOne of the safer big cities in the Tokyo–Yokohama corridor.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHND Tokyo Haneda (Keikyu Line express to Keikyu-Kawasaki, about 15–20 min, ¥400 (≈ US$3)).
- Getting aroundTrains do everything.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealGyoza dinner (Jackie Gyozarou)¥2,000–3,000 (≈ US$14–25)
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup or a set lunch¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9)
- Beerdraught in a pub / can at a konbini¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM.¥2,000–2,600 (≈ US$14–18)
- Museum or sight ticketJapan Open-air Folk House Museum entry¥550 (≈ US$4)
- Budget bedHostel or capsule bed, a night, per person¥3,000 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥13,000 (≈ US$90)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥26,000 (≈ US$180)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥11,000 (≈ US$75) · High ¥22,000 (≈ US$150)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HND Tokyo Haneda (Keikyu Line express to Keikyu-Kawasaki, about 15–20 min, ¥400) · NRT Tokyo Narita (Narita Express to Shinagawa, then Tokaido Line; about 90 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jun (13 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kawasaki: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
5 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
6 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
10 rd
Apr
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
11 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
13 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
10 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Trains do everything. JR Kawasaki is on the Tokaido and Keihin-Tohoku lines; Keikyu-Kawasaki is next door for the Keikyu line and the three-stop Keikyū Daishi Line to Kawasaki Daishi. The Odakyu Line from Shinjuku reaches Mukogaoka-yuen for the folk-house museum. You do not need a car.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 20 min
JR Tokaido Line from Kawasaki, about 7 min
Minato Mirai, the waterfront and Chinatown; easy half day.
Door to door: About 30 min
JR Tokaido Line from Kawasaki to Tokyo Station, about 15 min
Faster than the Keihin-Tohoku Line for the same ¥290 fare.
Kamakura
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR to Yokohama or Ofuna, then the Yokosuka Line
Temples and the Great Buddha; a full day.
Hakone
overnightDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
JR to Odawara, then the Hakone Tozan line or bus
Too far for a relaxed return day; sleep one night.
Enoshima
goDoor to door: About 1.25 h
JR to Ofuna or Fujisawa, then the Enoden or Odakyu
Island shrine and coast; combine with Kamakura.
Yokosuka
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Yokosuka Line from Musashi-Kosugi
Mostly a naval-port stop; go only for a specific sight.
Odawara
goDoor to door: About 1 h
JR Tokaido Line or Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama
Castle and the gateway to Hakone.
Manazuru
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5 h
JR Tokaido Line to Manazuru
Quiet fishing coast; better with a car or a slow day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kawasaki Station area
JR and Keikyu stations, the Azalea underground arcade and most hotels; easiest for Tokyo and Yokohama day trips.
Musashi-Kosugi
Tōkyū Tōyoko and Meguro lines plus JR Nambu, Yokosuka and Shonan-Shinjuku lines; more residential, good for Yokohama-side trips.
Shin-Maruko
Highway-side motel cluster near the Tama River; only useful if you drive.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥6,000–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–17,000 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
- High
- ¥17,000 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥13,000 | ¥13,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥11,000 | ¥22,000 |
| Keikyu from Haneda, both ways2 × ¥800 | ¥1,600 |
| JR Kawasaki → Tokyo, one way2 × ¥290 | ¥580 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥4,220 |
| Trip total≈ ¥23,200 per person per day, bed included | ¥46,400≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Noodle soup or a set lunch | ¥800–1,300 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Gyoza dinner (Jackie Gyozarou) | ¥2,000–3,000 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Beer: draught in a pub / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxiLate-night surcharge after 22:00.Late-night surcharge after 10:00 PM. | ¥2,000–2,600 (≈ US$14–18) |
| Japan Open-air Folk House Museum entry | ¥550 (≈ US$4) |
| Kawasaki Racecourse entry | ¥100 (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Kanamara Matsuri is on the first Sunday in April and draws big crowds; the penis and vagina candy popsicles sell out by midday, so go early.
- The shrine's small sex museum opens erratically; ask the shrine shop attendant.
- Industrial-zone night walks have long dead-ends and few lights: take a map and stay off private land.
- Kawasaki Racecourse and the keirin track hold weekday and night meetings; check the schedule before you go.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Kawasaki川崎
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Kawasaki; most are in Tokyo, with consulates-general in Yokohama and Osaka.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Haneda → Keikyu-Kawasaki, Keikyu express: about ¥400 (≈ US$3), 15–20 min
- JR Kawasaki → Tokyo Station, Tokaido Line: about ¥290 (≈ US$2), 15 min
- JR Kawasaki → Yokohama, Tokaido Line: about ¥210 (≈ US$2), 7 min
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kawasaki. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), New Year (temple crowds) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HND and NRT: last Keikyu and JR departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Kawasaki Station and Azalea, Kawasaki Daishi and Wakamiya Hachiman-gū, Mukogaoka-yuen and the folk-house museum.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kawasaki Daishi, Wakamiya Hachiman-gū, Japan Open-air Folk House Museum, Kawasaki Racecourse) and eat pages with last orders.
- Kanamara Matsuri fixture: first-Sunday-in-April dates, crowd and candy sell-out notes, and a rain plan.