Lake Okutama

Created by the Ogouchi Dam, Lake Okutama sits in the forested mountains of western Tokyo, and despite being within the city's administrative boundaries it feels like genuinely deep countryside. Hiking trails, suspension bridges, and lookout points spread through Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park around the lake. The floating drum bridge, Mugiyama Ukihashi, lets you walk across the water on connected pontoons. Spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage color the steep valley walls, while summer brings welcome relief from city heat. From Shinjuku, the JR Chuo and Ome lines get you here in about two hours, making this one of the best car-free nature escapes from central Tokyo.