One of the great things about Tokyo that endears the city to visitors and residents alike is its proximity to nature. Tokyo is surrounded by every geographical feature you could wish for: seas, mountains, lakes, forests and islands.
Another favorable facet: Thanks to Japan’s gold-standard railway system, a trip out of town is easy and enjoyable. So, the next time you feel like escaping the madness of the megalopolis, lace up your walking shoes and head to these three beautiful locations, all less than 70 minutes from the city’s heart.
Odawara
An express service from Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station can take you to Odawara in less than an hour. Odawara Castle, a five-minute meander up the road from the train, is the closest classical Edo-era Japanese castle to Tokyo. The extensive grounds are renowned for their colorful flowers, with azaleas, plum blossoms, wisteria and lotus blooming throughout the year. Cherry blossom trees shade cafés and sitting areas.
The castle was established in the 15th century and has been rebuilt to withstand earthquakes and landslides. There’s usually an archaeological dig within the grounds. You can see the findings of these searches inside the castle, a four-floor museum with a viewing deck at the top that’s open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day of the week.
Karuizawa
An exclusive resort favored by the Japanese royals, Karuizawa is a beautiful town nestled in the mountains of Nagano. The bullet train will take you there from Tokyo station in one hour, making it perfect for a day trip. Still, many choose to stay in the upmarket guesthouses or the classic Japanese hotels. The town also has churches and historical buildings resembling European ski lodges.
Karuizawa offers much more than fresh mountain air, though. Take your pick of seasonal sports: golf, cycling or hiking in summer, or skiing and ice skating in winter. Autumn is the most popular time to visit, as a natural show of fall colors throughout the town and surrounding mountains is spectacular.
The destination’s art museums attract visitors year-round as well. The Karuizawa New Art Museum, Trick Art Museum, Picturebook Museum and Hiroshi Senju exhibit the work of Japan’s most famous artists, sell locally produced souvenirs and are fun places for kids and adults.
Before you head back to the station, stop by None Cafe for a view of the forest. Here, you’ll encounter local squirrels and native birds while enjoying a cup of the house roast, the adored melon cream soda and None’s cheesecakes, which are the best in town.
Kamakura
If you’re looking for culture, fine local street food and a relaxed beachy vibe, head to the seaside town of Kamakura. Known as “Little Kyoto” for its abundance of temples, this lovely detour is a pleasant 47-minute ride from Shinagawa Station. Kamakura is famous for its lovely, dark, volcanic sand beaches and the Daibutsu (“Big Buddha”) at Kotoku-in Temple.
The walk from the station to this famous temple takes between 20 and 30 minutes. There are two possible routes to the Buddha, depending on how you feel: down the narrow streets past quaint shops and cafés or the Kuzuharaoka-Daibutsu Hiking Course, a well-maintained, sign-filled 1.3-mile stretch through the forest that passes some smaller, ancient shrines and even a café hidden among the trees. The route is moderately challenging but quite beautiful.
Kamakura is a foodie’s paradise with local specialties that are known far beyond the town. Every second or third shop in the area is an eatery: ice cream, kamaboko (steamed fishcake), soba noodles and fresh sushi from nearby Sagami Bay. The town even has its own craft beer.
Check out some of the stores selling Japanese pottery and indigo-dyed clothing, too. And if the weather suits a paddle in the sea, bring a towel and head to the beach, which is another easy walk from the station.
