Hanno - Tokyo's Mountain Town (less than an hour away from Tokyo)
Tokyo isn't all stele and glass. It's surrounded by beautiful rivers, mountains and farms. Take the time to explore the surrounding area! If you head out from Tokyo's Ikebukuro station on the Seibu Line and take the express train you can reach the end of it in about 40 min. There doth lie a mid sized sleepy mountain side town called "Hanno".
Hanno - is located in the middle of Saitama prefecture - next to Tokyo.
It's surrounded by small mountainous hills. The air is fresh, the pace of life much slower than Tokyo and one could even rent an entire small house here for about 7 to 800 dollars a month.
That's cheaper than Canada, cheaper than my small town.
The reason suburban towns surrounding Tokyo are such affordable places to live is because Tokyo creates a vacume effect. Simply put, everyone would rather live in the city - I guess it makes sense since thats where the jobs are.
Why do I like Hanno?
1). Old Wooden Building
Well when I first arrived in Tokyo, I didn't know what to expect.
Since I read a lot of books about Tokyo, well um..." Edo" before
coming here - i expected to see a little bit of Kyoto in Tokyo.
I had no idea that the city would be so "new"
I just get the feeling that most buildings in Tokyo (which can not be made of concrete of brick - due to earth quakes) are constructed with the intent of one day being torn down or replaced. Having gone through more than her fair share of wars, fires as well as earth quakes - This beautiful city definitely has a feeling of "impermanence" to it.
So,
What I find interesting about Hanno are the 50, 60 and even 80 year old
wooden houses, shops located...right in the downtown core of the city.
They really reminds me of my home town I back in Canada!
2). Mountain Biking.
Hanno is a great place to go mountain biking just outside of Tokyo.
Just Follow the mains road that lines the Naguri River upstream into the mountains.
Pedal as far as you'd like to go. Its possible to make 30km in a day and you will
pass through a bunch of small towns and roadside stop overs to grab yourself a quick lunch.
3). Golf
You can get to the Kuni Country Club in 10 min by car from Hanno Station.
Its a small course with gentle rolling hills and ponds.
Musashigaoka Golf Course
This is where Tiger Woods played golf for the first time in Japan.
It's a pretty good course. Very "American Style".
4). The Kaburi pass
This is a mountain pass that leads from Agano to Kuroyama.
It's far from Hanno Station, but worth a hike - its beautiful!
5). Lake Miyazawa Park
You can go boating, fishing, hiking etc here.
A nice place not too crowded.
6). Hanno Kawara River
A river like 10 minuits from the station.
in the summer people often go on pick nicks here.
Good place for a summer date.
7). Nonin-Ji temple
20 Min walk from Hanno this temple is 500 years old.
Not as large or historic as some of the temples in Tokyo,but it has GREAT beautiful gardens! It will cost you 300 yen. Cheaper than a cheap lunch in Tokyo, definitely not a waste of money.
8). Kinchakuda Flower Park.
20 min. from the hotel there's a park filled with million of red flowers in
the summer time. Again, a great "out of the city date place" not far from Tokyo!
Well Everyone,
I hope I've given you enough incentive to head out of Tokyo for the day
explore the beautiful rustic scenery of Hanno!
yours,
Matt
