In addition to Central Tokyo, there are a lot of attractions in its vicinity. The following areas and attractions are just 1-2 hour distance from Tokyo Station by train and good for a Brompton ride to explore around.
- Suburban Tokyo: Takao-san, Izu Islands
- Kanagawa: Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama
- Chiba: Tokyo Disney Land, Tokyo Disney Sea, Tokyo Sea Life Park
- Gunma: a bunch of hot springs like Takaragawa Onsen
- Tochigi: Nikko
- Yamanashi: Mt. Fuji
1. Central Tokyo (See a previous article for details. Click a photo to go.)
2. Nikko
Scattered among hilly woodlands, Nikko is one of Japan's major attractions. The World Heritage temples and shrines are an awesome display of wealth and power by the Tokugawa shogunate. Nikko Toshogu is a Shinto shrine established in 1617 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. It is a brilliantly decorative shrine in a beautiful natural setting. 'Sunset Gate' Yōmei-mon is the most famous structure.
3. Mt Fuji
Of all Japan's iconic images, Mt Fuji (3,776m) is the real deal. Admiration for the mountain appears in Japan's earliest recorded literature, dating from the 8th century. Back then the now dormant volcano was prone to spewing smoke, making it all the more revered. In 2013, Fuji was granted World Heritage status.
4. Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Sea Life Park
Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park opened in 1983 as the first Disney theme park outside of the United States. Modeled after Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland is made up of seven themed lands and features seasonal decorations and parades.
Tokyo DisneySea is Japan’s second gate of the Disneys theme park, with lands and attractions based on various ports of call, both real and imagined.
Tokyo Sea Life Park (Kasai Rinkai Suizokuen) is reproducing aquatic habitats in Japan and in the world. In this light, it installed a huge donut-shaped tank (2,200t), where bluefin tunas swim around visitors freely.
5. Takao-san
Takao-san (599 m) is a highly popular day trip destination from Tokyo with year-round hiking. It's rather built up compared with other regional hikes, but can make for a perfect family outing if you avoid busy weekends and holidays.
From Shinjuku Station, take the Keiō line to Takaosanguchi Station, one of the final stops. The tourist village, trail entrances, cable car and chairlift are a few minutes away to the right.
6. Minakami & Takaragawa Onsen
In the northern region of the Gunma Prefecture is the sprawling onsen town of Minakami. Surrounded by beautiful natural forests and mountains, and cut through by the gushing Tone-gawa (Tone River) it's a mecca for outdoor-adventure sports, hiking and skiing enthusiasts. The area is also home to Takaragawa Onsen (about 30 minutes away by road), a riverside spa ranked among the nation's best.
(photo source: Takaragawa Onsen official site)
Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city, has a distinctly different urban spirit. Even though it's just 20 minutes' train ride south of central Tokyo, Yokohama has an appealing flavour and history all its own. Locals are likely to cite the uncrowded, walkable streets or neighbourhood atmosphere as the main draw, but for visitors it's the breezy bay front, creative arts scene, multiple microbreweries, jazz clubs and great international dining.
8. Kamakura
The old capital and coastal town of Kamakura brims with temples, shrines and nice restaurants. The glory days of Japan's first feudal capital (from 1185 to 1333) coincided with the spread of Zen Buddhism in Japan. This legacy is reflected in the area's proliferation of stunning temples. Only an hour from Tokyo by train, this popular destination tends to get packed with visitors on weekends and holidays.
Daibutsu is the Kamakura's most iconic sight, an 11.4m bronze statue of Amida Buddha which was completed in 1252. Once housed in a huge hall, today the statue sits in the open, the hall having been washed away by a tsunami in 1498.
9. Hakone
Offering so many hot springs, world-class art museums, traditional inns (ryokan) and spectacular mountain scenery crowned by Mt Fuji, Hakone can make for a blissful escape from Tokyo.
10. Izu islands
Easily reached by ferries the islands feel worlds quite away from Tokyo. The peaks of a submerged volcanic chain extending 300 km into the Pacific are what makes up the Izu Islands. The islands are good places to enjoy riding Brompton. Snorkeling, surfing and fishing are also popular. Island hopping is possible on daily ferries that run up and down the archipelago. Check schedules.
Avove all, I recommend to visit Shikine-jima. About 6km south of Nii-jima, tiny Shikine-jima's Jinata Onsen is one of the most dramatically located onsen I've seen: at the end of a narrow cleft in the rocky coastline. The waters, stained a rich orange from iron sulphide, are naturally 80 degree centigrade; mixed with the cool ocean, they're just good temperature around 38-40 degree centigrade. The tide affects the condition, so bathing times change daily; check before making the steep descent.
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