What this area is like
Menuma Shodenzan, a national treasure, is covered in colourful carvings. Fukaya, known for its leeks, is the hometown of Shibusawa Eiichi, the face of the 10,000-yen note, and Yoshimi Hyakuana has hundreds of ancient tomb caves in a hillside.
Plan your visit
Kumagaya is about 40 minutes from Tokyo on the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen; summers here are among Japan’s hottest.