Explore the Natural Wonders Near Tokyo with iBestTravel

When you think of Tokyo, the first images that pop into your mind are likely busy crossings and flashing neon lights. However, venture out of the city limits, and you’ll discover that Tokyo Prefecture is as multi-faceted as the entire country.

With forested national parks, inviting rivers, sandy beaches, and epic volcanoes that are nothing short of awe-inspiring, a trip here is a breathtaking journey into the natural side of Tokyo—a side most visitors don’t even know exists.

Tama Region – Okutama and Hinohara

Head west of metropolitan Tokyo, and when train-goers start to rise from their seats and let out an audible reaction, you’ll know you’ve reached the Okutama region of Chichibu Tama-Kai National Park. Here, the dramatic mountain scenery must be seen to be believed.

Okutama is just two hours from downtown Shinjuku, but it feels like a world apart. Whether you’ve come to forest bathe, soak in hot springs, or take a dip in the winding Tama River, you’ll be immersed in the area’s rejuvenating qualities that seem to almost visibly linger in the air. The lush forests make it ideal for hiking, with various trails accessible right from the area’s train stations.

The 929-meter Mt. Mitake is a popular day trip, offering something new in every season. The fastest way to reach the top is a 10-minute bus ride from Mitake Station to the Mitake Tozan Railway, which will carry you to the upper reaches of the mountain in just six minutes. From there, it’s a 20-30 minute walk along the ancient cedar-lined pilgrimage route to Musashi-Mitake Shrine on the summit—a center of mountain worship for around 2,000 years.

In the surrounding village, you’ll find more than a dozen lodges called shukubō, managed by Shinto priest families who have been caring for the shrine for centuries. For a unique overnight experience, you can even stay at a shukubō, complete with local meals of mountain vegetables and fish.

From the shrine, many routes for further exploration await. One of the most popular is the Rock Garden route, a leisurely 2-hour loop featuring moss-covered stones and sacred falls, which the priests utilize for takigyō, a type of ascetic meditation performed under a waterfall. If you wish to trek further, consider a more challenging hike to the summit of adjoining Mt. Odake.

A shorter, spiritual journey is available off the mountain, deep within the forest of Hinohara Village. Just a 40-minute walk from the Kanotoiwa-Iriguchi bus stop leads to a gorge with remarkable towers of chert formed from fossilized plankton dating back 250 million years. Known as Kanoto Rock, this mystical site is akin to a threshold, signaling entry into the sacred realm of Mt Odake above. There are many symbolic references to the otherworldly experience surrounding a trip to outer Tokyo.

At the base of Mt. Odake, a sanctified shimenawa Shinto rope graces the entrance of the Otake Limestone Caves, indicating you are entering another world. This natural wonder offers a spelunking adventure through caverns extending around 300 meters in length, right beneath the mountain. Further into Okutama, the Nippara Limestone Caves impress with illuminated stalagmites and cool 11-degree-Celsius temperatures all year long.

After exploring the area on foot, nothing rivals unwinding by the Tama River. Camping, fishing, and barbecuing are all popular riverside activities. Additionally, those seeking a thrilling experience can embrace their adventurous side through rafting or canyoning tours.

Niijima, Izu Islands

Niijima is a surfing haven that forms part of Tokyo’s Izu Island chain. Just about 2.5 hours from the mainland’s Takeshiba Pier via high-speed jet ferry or a 35-minute flight from Chōfu Airport, your preconceptions of the country’s capital are set to be redefined once again.

As soon as you arrive on the islands, a sense of calm envelops you as your body synchronizes with the rhythm of the waves. With an area of 24 square kilometers, or 9.2 square miles, it’s manageable enough that many visitors choose to explore some parts by bicycle.

Just a 10-minute walk from Niijima Port takes you to what resembles ancient Greek ruins perched atop a rocky promontory facing the sea. Ascend the stairs to the summit, and you’ll discover a mixed-gender, swimsuit-only onsen. The Yunohama Outdoor Hot Springs are free, open 24 hours a day, providing an ideal space to absorb the island’s stunning sunsets and starry nights.

This unique onsen isn’t the only one on the island. Less than 20 minutes on foot inland leads you to Niijima Shinsui Kōen (Niijima Water Park), featuring unique stone structures and water features. All the stonework is crafted from the island’s kōgaseki, a rare type of volcanic rhyolite found only here and on Italy’s Lipari Island.

Across the island, massive moyai statues are carved from the stone. The term means “to come together” in the local Niijima dialect, serving as a playful nod to the similarly shaped moai statues of Easter Island. A visit to Ishiyama Observatory, located on an elevated quarry site, allows you to view one of the landmark moyai while looking out over Shikinejima and Kōzushima. Meanwhile, the Fujimi Pass Observation Deck offers beautiful night views.

Don’t miss the Habushiura Coast in the eastern part of Niijima, where you’ll immediately notice the soft pastel hue of the water, nicknamed “milky blue,” contrasting magnificently with the 6.5km white sand beach. The conditions here are world-renowned, attracting both professional and amateur surfers alike for leisure and competition.

Proceed to the southern end of the beach to discover Shiromama Cliffs, a striking 7km stretch of exposed volcanic strata varying from 30 meters in height to an astonishing 250 meters. Due to the risk of rockfall, this awe-inspiring site should be safely admired from a distance. This area is also home to a spot known as “Secret,” a coveted surfing break favored by local wave riders for its unique views.

Kozushima, Izu Islands

What Niijima is to surfers, nearby Kozushima is to scuba divers. Situated just under one hour further away by high-speed jet ferry, continuing your island-hopping adventure is uncomplicated.

Kozushima serves as an ideal location for relaxed water activities, whether it’s splashing around in the sea, casting a fishing line, or even diving into the underwater world of rock reefs.

One of the island’s standout attractions is the Akasaki Promenade, a collection of wooden walkways extending 500 meters around a tranquil cove on the island’s northwest. Here, visitors can gaze down into the inviting waters, and when they beckon, one can dive or jump right in from the designated platforms. It’s an optimal spot for casual snorkeling, where high visibility reveals coral reefs and a variety of colorful fish.

With four magnificent swimming beaches, visitors can enjoy the unique features of each one, including the main beach of Maehama with its 1-kilometer stretch of white sand, beautiful arc-shaped Sawajiri Bay, rocky Nagahama Beach, and scenic Tako Bay at the foothills of Mt. Tenjo.

For avid hikers, the striking 572-meter Mt. Tenjo provides breathtaking views of the entire island and even Mt. Fuji, which is about 130km away, on clear days. The mountain is steeped in folklore, with legends suggesting that long ago, the gods convened at its peak to decide how to distribute water, the essence of life, among the Izu Islands. Exploring the volcano’s crater loop trail is a journey through surreal and diverse landscapes, including the moonscapes of Urasabaku and Hairanaigasawa to the mossy, alpine scenery of Fudo-ike and Sendai-ike.

The ultimate way to conclude a day on the island is at the Kozushima Hotspring Recreation Center, which features both indoor and outdoor hot springs, a jacuzzi, sauna, massage chairs, a relaxation lounge, and a restaurant. Remember to bring your swimsuit for the open-air baths, which include a 275-square-meter bath set in natural rocks, providing an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean and the night sky.

This experience allows you to unwind and relish in the enchanting duality of Tokyo: a bustling metropolis paired with unparalleled natural resources—simultaneously complementary and distinctly separate.