Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park

Extending throughout the prefectures of Yamanashi, Tokyo, Saitama and Nagano, this park claims more than 20 peaks of over 6,557 ft, but no volcanoes. Mt. Kobushigatake (8,141 ft) and Mt. Kumotori (6,620 ft) offer a new challenge even to the seasoned climber. Mt. Daibosatsurei (7,311 ft), made famous by one of Kaizan Nakazato’s novels, has routes for both standard mountain climbing and hiking. Two of Japan’s most beautiful ravines, Mitake-Shosenkyo and Nishizawa, are beautiful in the lively greenery of spring, but their true splendor comes out in autumn, when the streams reflect unforgettable hues on the leaves as they change colors. Chichibu-Tama National Park, easily accessed from the Tokyo area, is an ideal place to observe over 2,800 plant and animal species in their natural habitat--including deer, monkeys, squirrels, and a variety of birds. Masutomi is known the world over as the home of a national recuperative hot spring with an exceptionally high radium content.