By James Hadfield

Travel Feb. 01, 2010 - 03:40AM JST ( 3 )

The trees hang heavy with citrus fruit in Nebukawa, an unmanned stop on the JR Tokaido line that makes for an agreeable day trip from Tokyo. The Hilton Odawara Spa and Resort looms on the slopes above the station, but otherwise there isn’t much going on in this sleepy town. It takes two hours or so to do a circuit of the area.

After arriving, head along route 740 to Shirato Bridge, and continue up the slope to get some good views of the coastline. Continue for a couple of kilometers, stopping off at the small temples and shrines along the way, then turn left opposite the colorfully painted Côte de Sara restaurant, onto a narrow road that leads to an observation platform. From there, head downhill past mikan groves to the pint-sized harbor of Enoura, where fishers sink lines off the jetty and seaweed is hung to dry from clotheslines.

Grab some lunch at one of the eateries along route 135 — the local specialties are soba noodles and sashimi — on the way back towards the station. Turn left at the Ryugutei seafood restaurant, just after crossing the river, and a small road leads you back to where you started.

If you’re still raring for action after that, there’s always the 12-km walking course from Nebukawa to Hayakawa, one stop up the line (allow approximately 3 1/2 hours).

Nebukawa is on the JR Tokaido line, and can be reached from Tokyo station in as little as 80 minutes if you catch the right train (1,620 yen).

Metropolis magazine