Let’s say you’ve already done it all. You’ve seen the edge of the horizon from the top of the Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー), cleaned out half the sushi in Tsukiji Market (築地市場), missed the last train after a night out partying in Shinjuku (新宿) and memorised every jingle in Disneyland. You’ve already seen, came, and conquered every popular attraction of note in Tokyo (東京) and believe that there can’t possibly be that much left in this sprawling metropolis that can surprise you.
Contrary to popular belief, Tokyo is a lot more than just the world’s busiest concrete jungle. It is an entire prefecture—with towns and citizens spread out far enough to have their own unique cultural flavour, and the sea of concrete skyscrapers has to end somewhere. There is an endless number of places you can go to experience the extreme ends of Tokyo Metropolis (東京都), and in this article, I’m going to give you just a taste of three such places to see what adventures might await beyond the reach of the core subway network.
Okutama
Have you ever taken a look at the couple dozen lines on the Tokyo train map and thought to yourself: what would happen if I rode one of these lines all the way to the end? At the very end of the Ome Line (青梅線), a good 90-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station lies Oku-Tama Station (奥多摩駅), our first getaway gateway out of the steel skyline of Tokyo.
Nestled within the town of Okutama (奥多摩町), a perfect place for nature lovers, I recommend you begin your day with a leisurely hike down the Old Okutama Road hiking trail (奥多摩むかし道) which starts close to the train station. This 10km-long hike should take roughly 4 hours for a beginner hiker to complete, and caps off at the ever-beautiful Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖). Whether it be framed by pink cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, the warm hues of fall or the crisp white snow of winter, Lake Okutama is a resplendent place to visit all year round. Top it all off with a soak in a nearby onsen for an end to a perfect day outdoors.
Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖)
Address: 5 Hara, Okutama, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo 198-0223
Access: A 4-hour hike at a casual pace starting from Okutama Station (奥多摩駅). Alternatively you can also take a 20-minute bus ride from Okutamaeki Bus Station (奥多摩駅バス停).
Ogasawara Islands
If the western-most train station in Tokyo isn’t far enough for you, then how about a secluded, tropical archipelago a thousand kilometres south of the mainland? With a distance like that, the Ogasawara Islands (小笠原群島) by all rights could qualify as another country entirely, yet absurdly enough these sunny islands do indeed fall under the administration of Tokyo as part of the Ogasawara Subprefecture (小笠原支庁). Travelling here is no small feat as well, as the island collective lacks a proper airport of any kind and can only be accessed via a 24-hour-long ferry ride which can depart as sparingly as every six days!
And yet despite the outrageous lengths needed to even travel here the islands remain a popular place to visit by Tokyoites in search of a tropical paradise. The two main islands of Chichijima (父島) and Hahajima (母島) are popular for whale watching, snorkelling, and unique island cuisine including sea turtle sashimi and passion fruit rum. While certainly not one of the most conventional Tokyo day trips by far, if the thought of sailing to a place with the moniker of “The Galapagos of the East” excites you, then by all means, bookmark Ogasawara for your next adventure!
The Ogasawara Islands may only be accessed via the Ogasawara Maru weekly ferry liner, which departs from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo. For more information, you can check out their website here.
Takeshiba Ferry Terminal (竹芝客船ターミナル)
Address: 1-16-3 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0022
Access: 1-minute walk from Takeshiba Station (竹芝駅), 7-minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station
Mount Takao
One last recommendation a bit closer for comfort would be the ever-beautiful Mount Takao (高尾山). 50 minutes away from Shinjuku by train, this sacred mountain is one of the most well-known nature attractions of Tokyo, thanks in particular to the stunning sceneries it can offer in both spring and autumn. From the moment you leave Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅) you’ll be greeted by a network of hiking trails to choose from, which can lead you through the top of the mountain whilst visiting attractions such as a monkey park, cable car ride, and a temple visit.
Besides the hike up and down the mountain itself, there are also a variety of facilities around Takaosanguchi Station for you to peruse. Wherever you find an attraction where people tend to work out a sweat, an onsen of some sort can usually be found nearby, and Mount Takao is no exception with the Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu (京王高尾山温泉 極楽湯) located just a few steps away from the train station entrance. Also of note nearby is the Takao 599 Museum (高尾599ミュージアム), a building with nature-themed exhibits about the ecosystem of Mount Takao which comes with its own cafe and tiny scale model of the mountain that children can climb.
Takaosanguchi Tourist Office
Address: Keio Takaosanguchi Station, 2241 Takao-machi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 193-0844
Access: Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅)
As this article should have hopefully illustrated, never for a second believe you’ve seen and done all there is to do in your favourite holiday destination. Japan is a bigger place than you think, so get out there and see beyond the edge of the familiar, for fortune favours the bold!
