【Outing with My Dog】Gourmet and Walks! A Walking Guide Around Dog-Friendly Kanagawa & Miyagase Dam

Easily accessible from Tokyo, we enjoyed the gourmet and walks at dog-friendly Miyagase Dam in Kanagawa with our beloved dogs!

Strolling through the retro atmosphere of the Water Town shopping district

The author values time with their beloved dog above all else on weekends. They have come to the Miyagase Dam in Kanagawa Prefecture. This area is known for its Water Town shopping district and Keyaki Square, offering plenty of spots to enjoy with your dog. It's easily accessible from Tokyo; it took about an hour and a half by car from the author's home, and they arrived smoothly.

The first stop was the Water Town shopping district, infused with a retro vibe. What surprised me was how common it was to see dogs—it's no exaggeration to say that just about one in every two people walking by had a dog! Not only because of the place itself, but the staff were also dog-friendly, making it a comfortable environment. It's often that people would come up and say, "What a cute dog!" and my pets seemed happy about that too.

While casually strolling with my dog, I stumbled upon a shop selling "Dog Treats" (400 yen). It seemed to have goodies like chicken breast and sweet potatoes, which are favorites of my dogs. I just had to buy some.

As I sat on a bench waiting, I heard a cheerful voice say, "Thank you for waiting!" When I promptly showed the treats to the dogs...

The enthusiasm for the food is incredible! Seeing my dog wide-eyed and enthusiastically eating made me, the owner and writer, involuntarily laugh. Since there was a bit more than I expected, I took half of it home, but at home, they finished it off at the same amazing speed. It seemed to be a favorite, so I decided to drop by again next time.

At the restaurant Kizuna where you can have a meal with your dog

It seems my dogs are full, so it's time for the owner to enjoy the meal. I stopped by Kizuna, a specialty store for leaf-wrapped grilled dishes (Hōbayaki). This place is incredibly precious for dog lovers since dogs are allowed inside the restaurant. Since it's still a bit chilly this season, being able to stay indoors in warmth is a great help.

Kizuna
Address: 940-20 Miyagase, Kiyokawa, Aico-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Closed: Irregular days

As seen in the image above, you can place a pet cart right next to the table. I have closed the cart's lid for my fearful dog, but it seems fine to leave it open as well. Restaurants where you can leisurely dine alongside your dog are rare, so it's easy to stop by when in Miyagase.

What I found while waiting for my food was the homemade "Wakasagi Senbei" (500 yen). The owner apparently presses the Wakasagi that he caught himself. I heard that if it's plain, I can enjoy it with my dog, so I decided to buy it. When I tried a little, I was surprised at how delicious it was, as the umami was concentrated! Of course, my dogs were also munching on it eagerly. It seems that the crispy texture was fun for them too.

Just as I was getting into the Wakasagi Senbei, my order of "Hoba Yaki (Pork Kimchi)" arrived. I was told to warm it up for about 2 minutes, but I was so tempted by the savory aroma of the pork kimchi being grilled on the Hoba leaf that my stomach started rumbling involuntarily.

After 2 minutes had passed, I added plenty of mayonnaise. The savory miso and mayonnaise mixed with the pork kimchi, creating a sinful taste. There are times when I crave this rich and flavorful taste uncontrollably. The green onions, which are generously topped, provide a good accent, and I couldn't stop using my chopsticks until the end. In fact, I've had this dish at least five times before, but no matter how many times I eat it, I want to have it again right away—it's my favorite menu item.

Commemorative photo at the Mizunomori Great Suspension Bridge from Keyaki Square

Now that I’m full, let’s head to Keyaki Square! It spans 2.5 hectares and is a perfect place for my dogs who want to run around energetically. Going down the stairs was a bit tough, but as soon as my dogs set foot in Keyaki Square, they were extremely excited.

It was a Saturday, so the area was bustling with people and dogs, but since the grounds were spacious, it was easy to keep a distance from others, allowing them to play freely.

After playing for about 30 minutes, we started our walk! As we leisurely climbed the slope...

we arrived at the Water Town Giant Suspension Bridge. I intended to cross it, but once I was right in front of it, both my dog and I got scared, and in the end, we decided to turn back right before the bridge. We just decided to enjoy a commemorative photo near the entrance.

After etching the low water level of the dam into my memory, I vowed to revisit during the cherry blossom season.

The view of the Miyagase Dam from the vicinity of the entrance to the Water Town Giant Suspension Bridge was spectacular! Just as it had been reported in the news, the water storage level was quite low, revealing the bare mountainside. Hoping that substantial rain would come soon, I quietly etched the appearance of the low water level dam into my memory.

My beloved dog seemed to be moved by the beautiful scenery (?!), gazing intently. As a pet owner, I can only hope this will become a fun memory. As it warms up, the area around Miyagase Dam will welcome the best season for enjoying the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Next time, I definitely want to go flower viewing and take a stroll with my dogs.

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