Kanagawa Reviews

12. Garden Review: Sankeien (Yokohama)

2009-04-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

Although a little bit off the beaten path, Sankeien is a very impressive garden. It was built by Tomitaro Hara, a wealthy silk trader, in the late 1800's. Originally his private residence, he opened it to the public in 1906. It was heavily damaged during WWII, and in 1953 was transferred to the Sankeien Hoshokai Foundation. For five years the garden was restored, and then it was re-opened to the public.

Tomitaro Hara, nicknamed 'Sankei Hara', collected and preserved a variety of historic structures within the property. One of the oldest is a three story pagoda from Kyoto that dates back to 1457.Other structures include a villa from Wakayama built in 1649, a gate constructed around 1708 for Saihoji Temple in Kyoto,... All of the structures are made of wood, and have been incorporated into the surrounding hills, streams, and ponds. If you take your time to enjoy everything there is to see, it would be very easy to spend half a day at the garden.

Address: Sankeien Hoshokai Foundation

231-0824 Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Honmoku Sannotani 58-1

045-6210-6345

http://www.sankeien.or.jp/guide/map.html

Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Entrance Fees: Adult (middle school and older): 500 yen

Child: 200 yen

City residents over 65 are free. Non-residents over 65: 300 yen

Multiple Entry ticket (5 entries): Adult 2000 yen, Child 500 yen

Annual Pass: 4500 yen

Access:

*From JR Negishi Station: At bus stop #1, take any one of the buses labeled Route No. 58, 99, 101, 108, or 126. Get off at Honmoku (10 min. ride), and then walk to the garden (7 min.).

*From East Exit of Yokohama Station: At bus stop #2, take the bus labeled Route No. 8. Get off at Honmoku Sankeien Mae (35 min ride), and then walk to the garden (5 min).

There is very little parking near Sankeien. If you do decide to drive, I recommend parking at MYCAL Honmoku Department Store and walking.

11. Spa Review: EnoSpa (Enoshima)

2009-01-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

On a cold, rainy day in January; I was soaking, ocean-side, in a hot spring fed pool. Hawks circled overhead, ocean waves lapped at the rocks below; it was pure heaven.
EnoSpa, on the island of Enoshima, is less than an hour outside of Tokyo, but it feels worlds away. An upscale complex filled with different types of hot spring pools, it is a great 'ladies only' or 'couples' get-away. Some of the pools there are for swimming, others for just soaking. The pools are indoors, outdoors, and a few are even in grotto-like caves opening to the sea. There are saunas and whirlpools. Everything is co-ed and bathing suits are mandatory; except in segregated traditional Japanese style baths connected to the locker rooms.
On the fourth floor is the Beng Teng Spa, a Southeast Asian themed spa on scale with the finest in Tokyo. On the second floor there is a medically-based spa that focuses on anma and shiatsu, Japanese-style massage. They also offer oxygen therapy capsules and medical conditioning therapies. Very little of the spa menus are in English, but the staff speak a little. It should be enough for you to get what you want.

Visiting the spa can be a whole day experience. Between soaking in the pools and spa treatments, I recommend visiting the fourth floor Italian restaurant for lunch. With seats along the window, there are beautiful views of the Shonan coastline. If it is clear, you can even see Mt. Fuji. The restaurant's menu has color pictures and is in English.

When entering EnoSpa, visitors take off their shoes and put them in a locker. The key is removed from the locker (by the way, it slides up to the left, it doesn’t pull straight out) and is taken to the front desk and it becomes a ‘charge card’ for the day. Everything purchased, including the entrance fee, is charged to the wristband. The total is paid when leaving.

At the front desk they will ask if anyone has tattoos or if anyone has been drinking too much alcohol (either will be denied entry). They will also give you a mesh bag containing a small towel, large towel, and a robe. If you hope to get a spa treatment, I recommend going there first to make a reservation (or call ahead of time).
Getting to the EnoSpa is easy, there are three train lines to Enoshima, and it is also possible to go by car. I recommend taking the JR Tokaido Line to Ofuna Station. Change to the Shonan Monorail, ride it to the end, then walk out to the island. Entrance fees are 2,650 for adults, 1,200 for children. Slightly higher on weekends and holidays in July and August. Although children are welcome (except on Sunday), I don't recommend bringing them, as it is a very quiet, relaxed place. The day I visited, not a single visitor was under 20 years old.

For more information, but only in Japanese, check website: http://www.enospa.jp/

10. Zoo Review: Zoorasia (Yokohama)

2008-02-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

Hands down, Zoorasia is the best zoo in the Kanto area, possibly in all of Japan, and I think it would make the world rankings as well! Established in 1999, Zoorasia is run by the Yokohama government, but I was amazed to feel as if I were within a Disney property! It is home to only about 60 different species, but almost every one of them is in a large, 'natural' enclosure. There are very few cages in this zoo, and most of the animals have quite a bit of space to run around in.

Zoorasia is divided into six areas: the Asian tropical forest, the sub arctic forest, the Oceanic grassland, the Central Asian highlands, the Amazon jungle, and the Japanese countryside. In each area, everything follows the theme, even the plants and trees planted there! The entire zoo is designed as a circuit. Follow the path and you'll never see the same thing twice, but you won't miss anything either. This also helps to disperse crowds.
Some of the best animal enclosures house lions, tigers, elephants, polar bears, and penguins - just to name a few! Many can be viewed from above, or through glass windows. I was impressed that animals not accustomed to winter all had heaters, and I read that those not accustomed to summer have air-conditioning!Similar to Tokyo's Tama Zoo, the park consists of rolling hills and lots of green. There are some great playgrounds for kids, large picnic areas, hiking trails, and even a stable for pony rides.I would say that the only negative to Zoorasia is its lack of food services. There are a couple of places for buying food, but even in the middle of winter, with minimal attendance, the lines were long. I suggest packing a lunch as there are so many wonderful places for families to sit outside and eat.Best of all, I felt like I was at Disney, but I only paid 600 yen to get in! One of the best bargains in Japan!

Entrance Fees:

Adults (Age 18 and over): 600 yen

High School Students: 300 yen

Junior High & Elementary: 200 yen

Free for High School Students and younger on Saturdays, but a student ID is required.
Discounts available for large groups (30 or more)

Hours of Operation: 9:30 - 16:30 (last entry at 16:00)

Closed on Tuesday except for public holidays, in which it is closed on Wednesday.

Address: 1175-1, Kamashirane-cho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama-shi, 241-0001

Phone: 045-959-1919

Other Services (ID and deposit may be required):

Wheelchairs: free

Stroller: 500 yen

Binoculars: 200 yen

Directions: From Yokohama Station, take the Sotetsu Line to Tsurugamine Station (15 minutes). From there, you'll need to take a bus to Zoorasia (10 minutes).

We drove there from Tokyo without difficulty (using our navigation system).

All-day parking is 1000yen

http://www.zoorasia.org/in.html

9. Aquarium & Park Review: Hakkeijima (Yokohama)

2008-02-19T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hakkeijima is a small island just off the Yokohama coast. It is connected to the mainland by three short bridges; two of which are for pedestrian traffic only (the third - for buses). Entrance to the island itself is free, and it is possible to bicycle over the bridges. With large grassy lawns and great ocean views, Hakkeijima is a great place for a family picnic. But, it offers a lot more!
My husband and I drove to Hakkeijima in January. From the parking lot, we walked a short distance over the Marine Gate onto the island. On our right we found 'Pleasure Land'. This is a mini-amusement park with 14 attractions. The attractions include: 'Bluefall' (a free-fall ride), the 'Surf Coaster', an 'Aqua Ride', mini 'Sea Boats', a merry-go-round, 'Drunken Barrels', and more. There is also a tall 'Sea Pardise Tower' for those who want a gorgeous sky view of the area. Each ride is priced individually (from 300 - 1000 yen), and all-inclusive passes are also available.

On the day we visited, January 19, 'Pleasure Land' was closed for its yearly inspection/repairs. I think this only occurs in January, for a couple of weeks.

On the left, we found the 'Aqua Resorts'. It is a combination of an 'Aqua Museum' (aquarium), the 'Dolphin Fantasy' (a special dolphin exhibit), and the 'Fureai Lagoon' - a special 'hands-on aqua park.
The 'Aqua Museum' boasts over 500 different varieties of fish, with a total of more than 100,000 sea creatures. Although a little dated, it was a decent aquarium.

The 'Dolphin Fantasy' was nothing special. If you purchase one of the passes, check it out. If not, don't waste your money.
The 'Fureai Lagoon' is fairly new and was very impressive. It is billed as "an establishment where partitions are removed as much as possible with the aim to increas contact and communication between sea animals and humans". Even I was thrilled when a beautiful dolphin swam up to where I was standing (beside its pool) and allowed me to touch it.

For an extra charge, visitors can go into the pools for an even more personal experience (like this family is doing).

This area is especially good for educating children, and there are a number of opportunites for them to 'interact' with sea animals/creatures.

The 'Aqua Resorts' are built around a lovely boardwalk overlooking a marina. My husband and I had some pretty tasty curry in a Hawaiian themed restaurant right on the edge of the sea. A number of other restaurants and shops also line the boardwalk. Again, entrance to the island is free, so even if you didn't visit the 'Aqua Resorts' or 'Pleasure Land', enjoying lunch and walking the boardwalk was really nice. There are fancier restaurants, a food court, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and more. I will say that the shops are all pretty 'cheesy', though.

We visited in January, the slow season, as it is pretty windy and cold. We were there on a mild winter day and it was almost perfect as practically no-one was there. I don't know what kind of crowds visit when the weather is warmer.
Also on the island, the 'Hotel Sea Paradise Inn', for those who want to stay overnight. All rooms overlook the ocean and the animals living in the Fureai Lagoon.

A one-day pass to Aqua Resorts and Pleasure Land is around 5000 yen for adults, 3,500 yen for children.

Aqua Resorts only: 2,700 for adults, 1,600 for children

Pleasure Land only: 2,900 for adults, 2,600 for children

*There are further discounts for seniors and for children 4 and under.

Getting there: There are a number of options. Check the website below for details.

Address: Hakkeijima, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi 236-0006
Phone: 045-788-8888

http://www.seaparadise.co.jp/english/

8. Destination Review: Sarushima (Yokosuka)

2007-09-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Sarushima, or 'Monkey Island', is located just off the coast of Yokosuka. These days it is used for fishing, picnics/BBQ's, swimming, and birdwatching. However, because of its strategic location at the mouth of Tokyo Bay, military fortifications were built there in the mid-1800's under the Tokugawa Shogunate, shortly after the Meiji Restoration, and during the 1930s. Brick tunnels built during Meiji period and the remains of a command post are all that have survived the passage of time.

During the Meiji period, fortifications were built into rock walls, ammunition magazines and barracks were underground and they were connected by tunnels. These fortifications were concealed behind French-style brickwork, possibly the last remaining of its kind in Japan.

There are no monkeys on the island. Instead, the name is credited to a myth about a famous priest whose boat drifted toward the island and a white monkey that led him to a beach where he could land safely.
I visited the island with Japanese friends during the middle of the summer holidays. The beach and ocean were packed with people. Considering its location near the US and Japanese naval bases, I was surprised that the water was crystal clear. That said, I wouldn't swim here again. Although there may not be a connection, I fell sick the day after visiting Sarushima. Some friends of mine in the US military said they wouldn't swim there, but my Japanese friends had not been concerned. It is up to you.

I would, however, recommend a visit to the island during less humid weather. There is a lovely wooden deck, with tables and umbrellas, overlooking the beach and sea. If you are a history buff, you'll enjoy walking the trails and exploring the remains of the military fortifications. Kids will enjoy checking out the wildlife. They also say the fishing is really good here.

If you want to BBQ, as long as you bring your own food, everything else you need can be purchased or rented. There is also a snack shop selling cold drinks and shaved ice.

Cold showers, dressing rooms, and decent toilets are also located right next to the beach.

Transportation: Boats leave from Mikasa Park.

*March to November: Everyday - 8:30, 9:30,... 16:30. Returning 8:45, 9:45,... 15:45, and the last at 17:00.

*December to February: Only Sat., Sun., and national holidays - 9:00,... 16:00. Returning 9:15 - 15:15, and the last at 16:30.

Entrance Fees: There is no fee on the island, but the round-trip boat ride is 1,200 for adults, 600 for children. For groups over 15 people, 1,080 and 480 respectively.

Phone: 046-825-7144

http://www.sarusima.com/

7. Aquarium Review: Aburatsubo Marine Park (Miura)

2007-05-09T01:25:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I can't say very many good things about the Aburatsubo Marine Park. Run by the Keikyu Group (mostly know for its train lines), the park is old and outdated, but entrance fees are quite high.

The main building, the 'Sakana no Kuni' had a large variety of fish, most of which were displayed in interesting tanks. We did spend a bit of time here.

Another smaller building, the 'DS Wonder', focuses on deep sea creatures, it was also interesting.

The outside exhibits were something else. There was a sea lion island, penguin island, and dolphin pool. All have seen better days. The dolphin pool was especially depressing. Circling a round tank is one lone female with deformities on her face from bumping against the tank windows too often. We asked about her and the staff said that her partner had died and against their recommendation, Keikyu had decided to leave her in there by herself. Quite sad for a pack animal.

The only other attraction is a marine show, which we missed. The park does have a lovely ocean side location, with beautiful views of the sea. In addition, there are some playgrounds, a BBQ house, and a main stage (although it was not used the day we visited).Admission: Adults: 1700 yen

Jr. High Students: 1,300 yen

Elementary Students: 850 yen

Infants (4 and under): 450 yen

*Group and student discount rates available.

Parking: 700 yen per car

Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 17:00. Open year-round, except for the last 3 days of December.

Location: Miura-shi, 三崎町小網代1082
Phone: 046-880-0151

6. Destination Review: Jogashima (Miura)

2007-05-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

Miura-shi (city) is located at the tip of the Miura Hanto (peninsula), and is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. I was surprised as we drove into town, the area looks completely different from the rest of the peninsula (and Izu); I felt as if I had driving into Okinawa. The area is full of rolling hills covered with cropland, mostly cabbage.
Right off of the coast is a small island called 'Jogashima'. Miura-shi is a base for deep sea fishing, and the half of the island we visited focused on the specialty, maguro (tuna). Visitors to the area can eat maguro in a variety of dishes, all super fresh and unbelievably inexpensive. The main street is lined with little shops, most of which serve food and sell a variety of seafood. They sell a lot of tourist junk as well. Most people don't make it this far into the Miura Hanto, and wandering the shops is a bit like stepping back in time.

A small lane heads up toward a lighthouse. We walked up, took in the sites, and then stopped at a tiny, family run restaurant for lunch.
I had grilled marinated tuna over rice, it melted in my mouth. They obviously don't get many foreign tourists as I could hear them whispering about me in the kitchen. They were extremely friendly, and the meal was a bargain. It even included refills on rice, miso soup, and homemade tsukemono (pickled vegetables).

If you are a fan of maguro, I highly recommend a day trip to Miura-shi. There was a small fee for crossing the bridge out to the island, and depending on how crowded it is, you might also have to pay for parking. Don't park right at the entrance to the small lane, though. Parking prices there were outrageous.

5. Sightseeing Review: Mikasa Battleship (Yokosuka)

2007-05-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Mikasa was Admiral H. Togo's flagship of the Japanese fleet during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). It was mostly remembered for it's performance during the Battle of Tsushima, which caused Russia's surrender.

The battleship is now a memorial, docked right across from the US Navy base in Yokosuka. Men who are into boats/ships, will enjoy touring this one.
Inside, some of the space is a museum (with many explanations in English), and some areas have been left intact. This is the dining area for the highest ranking officers.Location:

*From Yokosuka JR Station, take a bus to 'Otaki-cho' (5 min.), then walk 5 minutes.

*From Yokosuka Chu-o (Keihin Express Line) Station, it is a 15 minute walk.

The battleship is part of a nice, waterfront park. Good for picnics.

Hours of Operation: 9:00 - 16:30
Phone: 0468-22-5408 / 0468-22-5225

Admission: Adult (16 and up) 500 yen

*Armed Forces Members 300 yen

4. Park Review: Miyagase Park (near Atsugi)

2007-04-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

Miyagase is a man-made lake nestled high in the Tanzawa Mountain range. On one end of the lake is a fantastic park. The centerpiece of the park is a beautiful, pedestrian only, suspension bridge. Below the bridge lie walking paths, huge grassy lawns, an outdoor stage (with occasional live weekend performances), a kayaking/canoeing pond, streams and ponds for kids to play in, and much, much more.
A mini-train runs a full circuit around the entire park. I recommend that you take a ride on the train, or walk its course yourself. On the far side of the parking lots, is another interesting section of the park. Here you can play putter golf, ride go-carts on a track that winds through the woods, or try out the 'sliding slope'. Rent plastic sleds and slide down a long, wide section of slippery, artificial grass. Fees for all activities are very reasonable. I read that there are also many hiking trails nearby, in addition to camp sites and a swimming hole. In popular months, a tour boat ride circles the lake in about an hour.
This is a great 'day trip' from Tokyo. For lunch, bring a picnic, rent a BBQ grill (food included), or visit one of the many stalls or restaurants at the top of the gigantic staircase.
Getting there:

By train and bus: Take the Odakyu Line to Hon-Atsugi Station. Then, take a Kanagawa Chuo bus t Miyagase. The bus ride takes approximately one hour.

By car: There are a number of ways to get there, but this is the easiest: Take the Chuo Highway to the Sagamiko Interchange. From there, you want to make your way to route 412. I recommend plugging in the phone number for the park into your car navigation system.

There are over 1500 parking spots and parking is reasonable.

Visitor's Center: 046-288-1373.
Park Phone: 046-288-1340
Website: http://www.miyagase.com/ It is all in Japanese, but it still might be helpful.

**During the Christmas season, a 100+ year old fir tree is decorated with 10,000 lamps. At 28 meters, it is the tallest Christmas tree in Japan. An arch, and other trees in the park, are also decorated with 100,000 lamps (from 5-11pm).

3. Museum Review: Taro Okamoto Museum of Art (Kawasaki)

2007-04-11T01:29:00.000-07:00

Visiting this museum was an accident, it was beside the Minka-en (see previous blog), so we decided to check it out.

This museum is dedicated to the life and work of the artist Taro Okamoto, a native of Kawasaki. Mr. Okamoto's art pieces are displayed both inside and outside the museum, in unique settings.

The outside of the museum is really nice. I especially liked the outdoor tables at the cafe. The symbolic monument of the museum is the 30 meter tall 'Tower of Mother'. If you are unfamiliar with Taro Okamoto (as I was), you'll soon realize he is a fan of abstract (and of Picasso).

The museum itself is an interesting building, and if you like abstract art, you'll probably enjoy this museum. I am glad I visited it, but I won't visit again. One thing that really turned me off was the overselling of the artist himself. The displays reminded me of a museum Kim Jong Il might create for himself. It is obvious Taro Okamoto was very talented, it is unnecessary to promote him so heavily at a museum in his name. Too bad.
Address: 7-1-5 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City
Phone: 044-900-9898

Hours of Operation: 9:30 -17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Closed on Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), and the New Year's holiday period.

Location: The museum is in the same park as Minka-en. It is a 17 minute walk from Mukogaoka-yuen Station of the Odakyu Line. See the Minka-en website for an English map.

2. Museum Review: Nihon Minka-en (Kawasaki)

2007-04-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

In 1965, the city of Kawasaki began to relocate historic homes to Minka-en (Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum) from all over Japan. Currently there are 25 historical buildings, including a shrine and a Kabuki stage. The oldest home, the Kitamura House, was built in 1687.
I just can't say enough about this museum. It is absolutely fantastic. I recommend that everyone, foreign and Japanese, visit Minka-en at least once. The historic homes are set into a hillside, and a meandering path connects them. It feels as if you are walking through an actual community, rather than a museum. I was especially impressed with their attention to detail. All signs, trash bins, fences,... are made of wood, there is almost nothing that reminds you of the outside world. Stone statues have been placed along the trails, like the 'Dosojin', who was believed to protect villagers from evil spirits and to prevent the spirits from entering villages. I felt as if I had been transported back in time.Volunteers staff many of the homes and are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Quite a few of them welcomed me in English and were able to answer my questions. Folk tool making demonstrations took place in some of the homes, showing basic techniques of straw craft, bamboo craft, weaving,...

I received a very nice English pamphlet, and I was pleasantly surprised to see lengthy explanations in all of the homes and exhibits. I visited the museum in April, on a Sunday, and I was surprised that it was not at all crowded. I recommend visiting in late April or early May, when spring is at its best. I also recommend stopping for soba noodles at the Yamashita house. When surrounded by history, it is a lot more fun to eat traditional foods in a traditional atmosphere.
Nihon Minka-en

7-1-1 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City

Phone: 04-4922-2181

Hours of Operation: 9:30 - 17:00 (From Nov. to Feb. 9:30 - 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (but is open when a national holiday falls on a Monday); the next day after a national holiday (unless that day is a Sat. or Sun.); from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4.

Admission Fee:

Adults 500

Students (high school & college) 300

65 years and over 300 (Kawasaki City residents: free of charge)

Children (Jr. high & younger) Free of charge

(*Group rates are available, contact the office in advance for details)

Location: Minka-en is a 12 minute walk from the south exit of Mukogaoka-yuen Station of the Odakyu Line (20 minutes from Shinjuku). It is also easily accessible by car, there is paid parking in front of the entrance.

For more information in English, check this website: http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/sisetu_e/minka.htm

1. Outlet Review: Bayside Marina (Yokohama)

2007-03-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

The Yokohama Bayside Marina is an outlet mall built right next to what their website claims is Asia's largest marina. The location is great, with views overlooking yachts, sailboats, and cruisers owned by Kanto's elite.
There are about 90 stores, in three sections.

1) The Factory Outlets are arranged in a rectangle, there are two floors with an open courtyard in the center. Your standard outlet favorites are there: Adidas, Timberland, Eddie Bauer, Lacoste, Nike, Levis,... But, of course, most of the clothing is no larger than an American 'medium', and the largest shoe I saw for ladies was a 8.5 US.

2) The Kid's Outlets/Life Style Outlets are in a section off to the side. The Kid's Outlet included OshKosh B'Gosh and Lego; and stores I am not familiar with (Tender Box, Super Boo Homes, Little Andersen,...). The Life Style Outlet was made up of OIOI, Zoff, J Crew, Better Living, and Celule.

3) Along the bay side are the 'Seaport Restaurants' - Sam Choy's (Hawaiian), Bruschetta Pix Caffe' (Italian), Long (Chinese), Bayside Deli (Burgers), Arigato (Sushi), 2GO (Curry & Coffee) and Seaport Street (All-you-can-eat). All of the restaurants feature outdoor tables overlooking the water. I went to eat lunch around 1pm and there were lines at all the restaurants. But, once seated (outdoors, of course), lunch was thoroughly enjoyable.
My husband purchased a pair of shoes, but the only other thing we bought was lunch. I didn't find the shopping that great, but it was a really nice place to wander around.

This outlet is part of the 'Mitsui Outlet Park' group; other locations include: Makuhari (Chiba), Minami Osawa (Hachioji), Osaka, Kobe, and Nagashima (Mie Prefecture). The Makuhari outlet, called 'Garden Walk' is closer to Tokyo, but you don't get the marina views.

Hours of Operation: 10:00 - 20:00, but the restaurants are open later.

Phone: 045-775-4446

Getting to the Bayside Marina by train is a bit of a hassle, but by car (from Tokyo) it is pretty quick. Combined with some Yokohama sightseeing, it would be a nice outing. Or, you can visit the Costco located just a couple blocks away.

One tip if driving: The outlet is built on part of a reclaimed island. If you arrive too late, there will probably be a long line of traffic trying to go down one small road, and everyone in that line will be waiting to park in a group of parking lots right next to the outlet. The entrance to these lots was poorly designed, you could be waiting in line for over an hour. Instead, there is a parallel road that nobody takes (if you are driving parallel to the water, and the water is on your left, this road is just before the main one). Drive to the very end of it and there is a free parking lot with a shuttle bus (although the walk is really only about 5 minutes). It is also much easier to get out of when everyone starts to leave.

For instructions, in English, on how to get there:

http://www.bayside-outlet.com/information_eng.html