Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a large park in Tokyo that blends the French, English and Japanese styles of gardens.
sightseeing
Nagatoro: Iwadatami Rocks & Mount Hodo
After getting down from Mount Buko, instead of directly going back to Tokyo, I made a quick detour by Nagatoro, north of Chichibu City. The area is famous for the Iwadatami Rocks, next to the Arakawa River. It is possible to ride a traditional Japanese boat through rapids but I was too late for that. However, fall colors were in full swing. The other attraction of the area is Mount Hodo, a 497m high mountain. There is a ropeway to the summit about 20min from the Iwadatami Rocks. I arrived just in time to watch the sunset.
Lake Okutama
After reaching Lake Okutama at the end of the Mukashi Michi trail, I spent some time on the Ogouchi Dam itself. I then walked in the area north-west of the dam: There are some nice view points of the lake. Finally, I ended the day by hiking up Mount Kurato (倉戸山). However, the view at the summit was blocked by trees so it was a bit of a letdown. I also managed to get lost on the way down… Another option would have been to walk the combined Ikoi trail (奥多摩湖いこいの路 ; literally “Lake Okutama Relax Trail”) + Lakeside Path (湖畔の小道), two easy trails that follow the south bank of the lake all the way from the dam to the so-called Drum Bridge (a floating bridge), near the Ogouchi Shrine.
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival
This festival begins as the trees in the Ginkgo Avenue inside Meiji Jingu Gaien turn yellow. There are also stalls selling specialty products from different regions of Japan, while the local mascots also make the occasional appearance. The event will last until December 9th.
Hike in the Fuji 5 Lakes area: Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Ashiwada, Aokigahara Forest
A couple of weeks ago, I went on a day trip to Fujikawaguchiko, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The area is located on the north side of Mount Fuji, west of Tokyo, and is famous for being a great spot for watching the mountain. It also known under the name “Fuji Five Lakes” (after Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai, Lake Shoji, Lake Motosu and Lake Yamanaka). On top of the lakes, the area has mountains and swathes of woodland, the most well-known being Aokigahara Forest, also called the “Sea of trees” (and sometimes “Suicide Forest”).
Hatonosu Valley / Otama Trail
The Otama Trail is in Okutama City, in Nishitama District, the westernmost area of Tokyo. It is a gentle path that follows the Tama River from Kori to Okutama through well-built trails, mountain roads and suspension bridges. I followed it for a short section, from Hatonosu to Shiromaru Dam. Autumn colors were not fully there yet but the sights were still great.
Jonanjima Seaside Park
After my visit to the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, I finished the day by walking to Jonanjima Seaside Park: It is a park bordering Tokyo Bay, directly across the water from Haneda Airport. Its position makes it a good spot for watching the planes landing at the airport: They are flying overhead every few minutes. There is also a beach (swimming forbidden though…) and a camping site.
Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park
The Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park (東京港野鳥公園) is a 24ha nature preserve built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, just north of Haneda Airport. It was built as a habitat for resident and migrant birds.
Hakone Round Course
Last week, I went on a day trip to Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture. The trip takes about 2h from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo using the Odakyu Line. There, I did the so-called Hakone Round Course (counter-clockwise), which involves going through the area using 5 modes of transportation (train, cablecar, ropeway, boat and bus), starting and ending at Hakone-Yumoto Station. Hakone offers great natural beauty, with mountains, a lake and the view of Mount Fuji, as well as historical sites, hot springs and museums, although I did not get to enjoy everything.
Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa
Showa Kinen Park (aka Showa Memorial Park) is a large park (163ha) in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. Until the 4th of November, it is home to the Cosmos Flower Festival. It also offers many other interesting sights and activities.