Many people visit central cities of Tokyo like Shinjuku, Shibuya or Minato. Most of man-made tourist attractions are located there and travel does not take much time or money.
But the center is only 1/4 of whole Tokyo and all natural attractions are located in other parts.
As a matter of fact, Tokyo is the easternmost and southernmost prefecture of Japan; the eastern and southern parts are 2000km away from the center. Travel to some islands can take more than 24 hours by ferry. The western part is only 70km away and it takes just a few hours by train.
Both islands are well known among beach campers.
There are free onsens too.
Hikers also will not leave with empty handed.
Also there is small airport on Niijima Island so you can get there from Chofu airport by small airplane.
Shikinejima Island is surrounded by numerous small bays which are reach of sea life, so take your snorkel in set or rent it on the island. You can also take scuba lessons.
Beaches of Chichijima are much better than Niijima or Kozushima, sand is VB smaller amd more clean. Several beaches have white sand, but accessible by boat or hiking only.
There is marine reserve near Chichijima where you can snorkel or dive. To get there you need to rent a boat but you can also go to whales and dolphins.
Rather than shrines, most popular thing on mt. Takao is red maple leafs with easy access by cable car and lift. In the end of November the mountain get packed and cable car and lift lines become endless. During that time tens thousand people visit mountain in a day.
Beside maple you can find tengu statues in shrines. During sakura season you can see sakura in one of valleys beyond the top of mt. Takao.
Mt. Takao is only 599m, it's not even highest mountain in its ridge, from mt. Takao there multiple trails to other mountains including mt. Jimba (857m). From mt. Takao without any special training or equipment you can get to Sagami Lake where in the park nearby during the same maple season there is a very nice illumination.
Okutama is the westernmost town of Tokyo, population is about 5K. Unlike Hachioji with mountains mostly at the border whole Okutama Town is located in mountains. On weekend mornings there is a special train from Shinjuku station directly to Okutama, just be careful with train cars, half of the train is going to Otsuki (mt. Fuji route) after Tachikawa station. On other days and time you have to transfer few times. The way takes about 2 hours.
The town is scattered along Tama river and rail road, there are multiple hiking trails from every station. There are several attractions in Okutama
The largest lake of Tokyo - Okutama Lake
and the highest mountain of Tokyo - mt. Kumotori, 2017 m.
In Okutama mountains you can find many nice views of mt. Fuji.
In Tama zoo you can find several domes with beards and even dome with numerous butterflies, as usual animals like gorillas, orangutans, elephants, etc. Yes, no pandas, but still.
Here is a videowalk during cosmos festival.
Here is a videowalk with some annotations.
For your own safety feeding is recommended.
Of course this is not full list of Tokyo cities but that's the main places I could remember with my own photos.
* Feel free to correct my English in comments.
* Tokyo City was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo prefecture which existed until its merger with its prefecture on 1 July 1943. The new merged government became what is now Tokyo, also known as the Tokyo Metropolis or Tokyo Prefecture.
But the center is only 1/4 of whole Tokyo and all natural attractions are located in other parts.
As a matter of fact, Tokyo is the easternmost and southernmost prefecture of Japan; the eastern and southern parts are 2000km away from the center. Travel to some islands can take more than 24 hours by ferry. The western part is only 70km away and it takes just a few hours by train.
Niijima Village
The village is located in about 10 hours to the south by ferry from Takeshiba port in Minato city. It lays on two islands Shikinejima and Niijima itself.Both islands are well known among beach campers.
There are free onsens too.
Hikers also will not leave with empty handed.
Also there is small airport on Niijima Island so you can get there from Chofu airport by small airplane.
Shikinejima Island is surrounded by numerous small bays which are reach of sea life, so take your snorkel in set or rent it on the island. You can also take scuba lessons.
Kozushima Village
A bit further to the south from Niijima you can find Kozushima Island. It has all conveniences of Niijima with addition of platforms on rocks which are very nice for jumping into the sea.Ogasawara Village
Ogasawara is a rather huge municipality, its territory is spread up to the southernmost and the easternmost islands of Tokyo. The main populated islands of the village are Chichijima and Hahajima. There is no airport anywhere so it takes more than 24 hours to get there by ferry which commutes there twice a week during summer. It's prohibited to camp on either island so you need to book minshuku.Beaches of Chichijima are much better than Niijima or Kozushima, sand is VB smaller amd more clean. Several beaches have white sand, but accessible by boat or hiking only.
There is marine reserve near Chichijima where you can snorkel or dive. To get there you need to rent a boat but you can also go to whales and dolphins.
Hachioji City
Hachioji is the largest city of Tokyo and located in its western part in one hour by train from Shinjuku station. In Hachioji you can find most popular yet not the highest mountain of Tokyo - Takao.Rather than shrines, most popular thing on mt. Takao is red maple leafs with easy access by cable car and lift. In the end of November the mountain get packed and cable car and lift lines become endless. During that time tens thousand people visit mountain in a day.
Beside maple you can find tengu statues in shrines. During sakura season you can see sakura in one of valleys beyond the top of mt. Takao.
Mt. Takao is only 599m, it's not even highest mountain in its ridge, from mt. Takao there multiple trails to other mountains including mt. Jimba (857m). From mt. Takao without any special training or equipment you can get to Sagami Lake where in the park nearby during the same maple season there is a very nice illumination.
| Hiking video | Illumination video |
|---|
Okutama Town
Okutama is the westernmost town of Tokyo, population is about 5K. Unlike Hachioji with mountains mostly at the border whole Okutama Town is located in mountains. On weekend mornings there is a special train from Shinjuku station directly to Okutama, just be careful with train cars, half of the train is going to Otsuki (mt. Fuji route) after Tachikawa station. On other days and time you have to transfer few times. The way takes about 2 hours.The town is scattered along Tama river and rail road, there are multiple hiking trails from every station. There are several attractions in Okutama
The largest lake of Tokyo - Okutama Lake
and the highest mountain of Tokyo - mt. Kumotori, 2017 m.
In Okutama mountains you can find many nice views of mt. Fuji.
Hino City
The biggest zoo of Tokyo, Tama zoo, is located in Hino City. IMHO Ueno zoo is out of league.In Tama zoo you can find several domes with beards and even dome with numerous butterflies, as usual animals like gorillas, orangutans, elephants, etc. Yes, no pandas, but still.
Tachikawa City
The largest park of Tokyo, Showa Kinen Park, is located in Tachikawa City. Park is well know for its flower festivals including tulips and cosmos.Here is a videowalk during cosmos festival.
Koganei City
On the half way to Tachikawa you can find famous Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectual Museum in Koganei City. Some of building are reconstruction but there are original building moved log by log from other places of Japan.Here is a videowalk with some annotations.
Machida City
There is a squirrel park in Machida City. Here you can not only watch but feed too.For your own safety feeding is recommended.
Mitaka City
Well known Ghibli Animation Museum is located here.Of course this is not full list of Tokyo cities but that's the main places I could remember with my own photos.
* Feel free to correct my English in comments.
* Tokyo City was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo prefecture which existed until its merger with its prefecture on 1 July 1943. The new merged government became what is now Tokyo, also known as the Tokyo Metropolis or Tokyo Prefecture.
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